Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic output of downstream manufacturing industries that are reliant on essential chemical precursors where the UK has no or limited manufacturing capability, including ammonia, ethanol, methanol, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, sulphuric acid, siloxane, acrylonitrile, methacrylate, hexamethylene and titanium dioxide.

Government recognises the criticality of chemicals, given that the sector underpins almost all other manufacturing. The chemicals sector was identified as a key foundational industry within our modern Industrial Strategy which will implement targeted policy interventions to drive long-term sustainable, inclusive and secure growth.

Government regularly engages with industry to monitor vital supply chains, including on chemicals. This includes regular engagement with the sector to identify areas which could improve the resilience of our supply or mitigate disruption.

The government announced its intention to set up a Supply Chain Centre as part of the Trade and Industrial Strategies. The Centre is already operational, marking a step change in government’s approach to protecting the UK’s economy and security in turbulent geopolitical times utilising a data-led approach.