Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of national security import controls to prevent dependence on Chinese companies for consumable equipment in the defence supply chain.

The Department assesses that existing national security import controls, alongside wider procurement and security frameworks, are robust and sufficient to manage risks of dependence on Chinese suppliers.

Procurement is subject to strict due diligence, supported by the National Security and Investment Act, JSP 440 and the Procurement Act 2023, enabling exclusion of high-risk suppliers. These controls are reinforced by broader import and export frameworks, with risks assessed case by case to protect operational resilience and freedom of action.