Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Public Procurement: UK Businesses

Thursday 25 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

  • Labour Government published new guidance to ensure the 400 billion procurement budget backs British business and protects national security.
  • Jayne Kirkham asked if British shipyards will be prioritised for British work under new procurement rules.
  • Minister confirmed work with National Shipbuilding Office to prioritise shipbuilding in new procurement rules.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jayne Kirkham Labour (Co-op) Truro and Falmouth
Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses the prioritisation of UK businesses in Government procurement, particularly concerning national security and critical industries.

Question

What steps he is taking to prioritise UK businesses in Government procurement. This involves ensuring that the full weight of the £400 billion procurement budget protects national security and backs British business across sectors such as steel, shipbuilding, AI, and energy infrastructure.

Answer from Chris Ward

This Labour Government believe that it matters where things are made, and who makes them. Last week, I published new guidance to ensure that the full weight of our £400 billion procurement budget protects national security and backs British business. The guidance applies to four sectors initially—steel, shipbuilding, AI and energy infrastructure—and it will help secure our critical UK industries and boost growth across the country.

Answered
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Q2 Jayne Kirkham Labour (Co-op) Truro and Falmouth
Defence Business & Trade
Context

A&P Falmouth, owned by Balaena, bid for a maintenance and repair contract for the Sir David Attenborough research vessel from UK Research and Innovation. Despite their strong bid, the contract went to a Danish shipyard under post-Brexit Conservative procurement rules.

Question

Will the Minister confirm that under the procurement rules that we are introducing, British shipyards will be prioritised for British work? This involves ensuring that British shipyards are marked up on social value criteria and given priority in future procurements.

Answer from Chris Ward

My hon. Friend is right to raise this issue. She has raised it with me previously, and she is a fantastic champion for her constituents. As she knows, I am working with the National Shipbuilding Office to bring forward the new rules. Shipbuilding is one of the areas that we are prioritising. Unfortunately, this procurement took place before the guidance came in, and it shows why the guidance is so necessary. It allows us to protect British national security and support shipyards, such as the one in her constituency. I reassure her constituents that the steps that the Government have taken will mean that more contracts, business and jobs come to constituencies like hers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific confirmation on prioritising British shipyards for future work under new procurement rules was not provided

How: Reassurance Without Concrete Commitment

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