Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of building a semiconductor fabrication facility to meet demand for semiconductors within UK industries.

On behalf of the government, DCMS has been reviewing the UK semiconductor sector, and intends to set out more detail in the forthcoming UK Semiconductor Strategy; this has been developed by engaging with industry experts, representative bodies and the wider global community.

The Government recognises that the UK’s approach to the semiconductor sector should look to support and build on our existing strengths domestically, and is considering efficient interventions. The Government is in the process of commissioning a feasibility study that will explore the potential of developing or upgrading infrastructure across the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem, in order to better support innovation and growth.

Due to the inherently global nature of semiconductor supply chains it will remain vital that the UK works closely with our international partners in order to guarantee and safeguard the security of our chip supply, this is a central pillar of the government’s approach to the sector.