The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has unveiled the sources and values of steel used in British military shipbuilding projects over the past five years. The data highlights key contributions from both European Union (EU) countries and the UK, shedding light on the international nature of materials used in UK naval construction.
The disclosure came in response to a parliamentary question from Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Slough), with the Minister of State for Defence, Maria Eagle, confirming that steel procurement data for MOD shipbuilding is included in the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) annual steel public procurement return.
The latest available data covers the 2022-23 financial year, offering insights into the steel sources for two significant UK military shipbuilding programmes: the Type 31 and Type 26 frigates.
Financial Year 2022-23
For the Type 31 frigate programme, steel worth £41.85 million was sourced from Finland and Spain, alongside £1.31 million worth of UK-produced sections and pipes.
The Type 26 frigate programme, on the other hand, sourced £3.16 million worth of steel from eight EU nations, including Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Additionally, £1.54 million worth of steel was procured from UK suppliers.
Previous Years’ Procurement
The procurement breakdown for previous years is as follows:
- 2021-22: The Type 31 programme spent £43.6 million on plate, bulb bar, and sections, while the Type 26 programme used £465,498 of plate steel (origins unspecified).
- 2020-21: The Type 31 programme procured £391,949 worth of structural steel and sections, while the Type 26 programme used £3.76 million worth of plate, sections, and sheet steel.
- 2019-20: The Type 26 programme sourced £3.4 million worth of various steel grades (origins not specified).
- 2018-19: No steel purchases were recorded for UK military shipbuilding.
Steel Procurement Transparency & Future Data
Maria Eagle highlighted that since the 2017-18 financial year, the DBT has improved its reporting, providing more detailed records on steel sources. This was particularly evident in the 2022-23 period, when the origins of the steel were clearly specified for the first time.
However, it was confirmed that the data for the 2023-24 financial year has not yet been published, and further information will be made available in due course.
These figures reflect the growing transparency in defence procurement and the ongoing collaboration between the UK and its European partners in securing vital materials for military shipbuilding projects. As the UK continues to develop and maintain its naval capabilities, the role of international suppliers remains critical in ensuring the success of these important programmes.
