§ Mr Ian Liddell-GraingerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his guidelines are on sources of supply for(a) ammunition and (b) propellant in the United Kingdom arms industry. [107264]
§ Mr. IngramThe guidelines used to determine which sources of supply provide ammunition to the Ministry of Defence are based on smart acquisition principles, which utilise competition to obtain best value for money in meeting the military requirement, whilst ensuring security of supply. The source of propellant is judged to be a matter for the supplier. However, potential suppliers are required to provide advice on the sources of the components in each bid and security of supply is taken into account during the tender process.