Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of UK-made steel in projects funded by his Department.

The Departmental main user of steel products is the Environment Agency. Regular reports are submitted to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy who publish the six-year FCRM Capital programme of construction projects each year which may include steel content.

There is an expectation that supplier partners will use the Contracts Finder website to advertise any sub-contracting opportunities outside their established supply chain.

All Government departments and arms-length bodies are required to consider socio-economic and environmental factors when procuring steel, not just cost alone.

Sustainability, quality and price criteria are used when selecting suitable suppliers. Our new Social Value Model (published in September last year) requires central Government departments to expressly evaluate environmental, social and economic benefits as part of the procurement process (for qualifying procurements).

In addition, the Government is currently consulting on an ambitious package of major procurement reform. The Government’s aim is to create a simpler and more flexible regime that works much better for British businesses, including steel business, while still complying with our international obligations. The proposals made will help ensure that public procurement at all levels actively helps achieve national strategic priorities, generating economic growth, helping our communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and tackling climate change. The consultation closes on 10 March.