§ 10. Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements his Department makes to ensure that there are adequate supplies of the raw materials required for the manufacture of weapons necessary for national defence.
§ Mr. HayhoeThis question is primarily one for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Industry. The Government announced on 19 May that they would consult industry and others about the desirability of measures to improve continuity and security of supplies. The Ministry of Defence looks to its suppliers to take responsibility for maintaining and protecting their supplies. It normally only takes this responsibility itself where it manufactures its own weapons and equipment.
§ Mr. JonesDoes the Minister think that steel output of 15 million tons a year is sufficient for a modern industrial State with a strategic defence capability and responsibility? Has the Minister noted that the new British Steel Corporation chairman is, by the terms of his contract and the controversy surrounding it, almost unsackable and, therefore, could depress our annual tonnage target from 15 million tons, to, perhaps, 12 million tons a year? Will we have enough steel for example, for the new Challenger tank?
§ Mr. HayhoeThere is no doubt that the supply and availability of steel will be sufficient to meet our defence commitments and, though this is primarily a question for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, I understand that the British Steel Corporation will have a mothballed capacity of up to 5 million tons. That, obviously, would meet any likely defence requirement.