Does Britain have control of the supply chains our economy and national security depend on?

Supply chains involving the critical minerals essential to developing advanced technologies from AI, to military defence, to renewable energy can be vast and complex.  A major defence company's supply chain might involve 6,000 or 7,000 contractors moving sub-assemblies back-and-forth between facilities around the world. The defence company itself might not have direct sight of most of this supply chain, including where risks to supplies of essential components like critical minerals might arise. 

This creates a huge challenge for governments trying to understand and provide support to meet national demand and need for essential components in critical industries.  

What kind of handle does the UK have on its own critical mineral supply chains – from mining and refining to recycling – and where are the risks, chokepoints and barriers to growth?  

Rounding off this short inquiry, the Committee turns to mineral miners and traders, including those exploring domestic reserves of lithium - a core electronic battery component – in Cornwall and the Northeast of England.   

Beyond the UK's own industry, how can the UK use trade, bilateral partnerships, multilateral initiatives, and development finance to develop strong, secure supply chains that support UK resilience and national economic security?  

Closing the inquiry, the Committee will put the findings emerging from its evidence to the minister for industry across both the business and energy departments, Chris McDonald.    

The Government has published a critical minerals strategy: is it now ready to deliver it?

Rt Hon Liam Byrne, Chair of the Business and Trade Committee, said:  “From missiles to microchips to electric cars, critical minerals are now the building blocks of the modern economy. But too often Britain is blind to where these supplies come from, who controls them, or where the next shock could hit.

“This inquiry is about one simple question: does Britain actually have control of the supply chains our economy and national security now depend on?”

At 230pm on Wednesday 20 May: The domestic supply chain 

1. Nick Pople, Managing Director at Northern Lithium 

1. Mike King, Vice-President, Business Development and Government Relations at Cornish Lithium plc 

1. Andrew Monk, Chief Executive Officer at VSA Capital 

1. Alexandra Williams, Head of Government Affairs at Novelis UK 

At approximately 315pm: The role of aid and trade 

1. Toby Spittle, Copper Trader at Glencore 

1. John Lindberg, Policy and Government Affairs Principal at International Council on Mining and Metals 

1. Professor Paul Ekins OBE, Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy at University College London 

At 3:50pm: Ministerial 

1. Chris McDonald MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Industry) at Department for Business and Trade and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 

1. Mike Hill, Deputy Director, Critical Minerals and Mining at Department for Business and Trade