Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Lead Ammunition

Monday 1 June 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Lead ammunition supply has been constrained over the past five years, affecting stockpiles.
  • The Government is taking steps to rebuild depleted stockpiles and ensure adequate supply for defence purposes.
  • The Minister offered to meet with Julian Smith and his constituents to discuss the issue of lead ammunition supply and its impact on the police and armed forces.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Julian Smith Con Skipton and Ripon
Defence
Context

Lead ammunition supply has faced constraints over the past five years, impacting military and police stockpiles.

Question

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of lead ammunition for defence purposes. Lead ammunition supply has been constrained over the past five years, affecting stockpiles. The questioner seeks an evaluation of current availability and measures taken to ensure adequate supplies for national defence.

Answer from Luke Pollard

Lead, like other critical minerals and chemicals used in producing energetics and ammunition, has seen constrained supply over the past five years. The Government is taking a strategic approach to munitions management by rebuilding depleted stockpiles, investing in always-on facilities, and building new energetics factories.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assessment of lead ammunition availability for defence purposes was not provided.

How: Strategic Approach To Munitions Management

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Q2 Julian Smith Con Skipton and Ripon
Crime & Law Enforcement Defence
Context

The upcoming ban on lead in commercial bullets is causing significant problems for the military and police regarding cost and supply. Viking Arms, a supplier to both sectors, expresses concerns.

Question

I thank the Minister for the answer. According to the ammunitions industry, the upcoming ban on lead in commercial bullets is going to cause significant problems for the police and armed forces, in terms of cost and supply. Viking Arms, in my constituency, which supplies the military and the police, is deeply worried about this issue. Will he meet it and any other suppliers to hear their concerns about the problem?

Answer from Luke Pollard

I would be happy to meet the right hon. Gentleman and his constituents. We inherited stockpiles that were much lower than we would have liked, and this Government are determined to refill those stockpiles; anything that goes into rebuilding those is important to me. I am happy to meet and discuss this further.

Answered
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