Home / Sources / Select Committees / Defence Committee / Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supp…
Index live
Select Committee · Defence Committee

Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supply Chain

Status: Closed Opened: 30 Jul 2020 Closed: 9 Jul 2021 8 recommendations 6 conclusions 1 report

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, this inquiry and planned Sub-Committee will scrutinise the vulnerabilities of the UK’s defence supply chain. Focusing on the impact on SMEs and mid-sized companies, it will: assess the current level of foreign ownership, particularly by companies with links to states which could have “ulterior motives” explore the current and planned regulatory … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supply Chain HC 699 14 Feb 2021 14 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

2 items
5 Recommendation Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supp… Rejected

The Ministry of Defence’s open and country-agnostic approach to foreign involvement means that the defence...

The Ministry of Defence’s open and country-agnostic approach to foreign involvement means that the defence supply chain has been open to potentially hostile foreign involvement, with reports of companies being owned and influenced by foreign Governments whose values and behaviours are at odds with our own and who are known … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to publish a friendly list of countries for investment, stating it prefers a country-agnostic, risk-based approach, strengthened by the NSI Bill, to scrutinize all foreign acquisitions on a case-by-case basis due to potential circumvention.
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence
6 Recommendation Foreign Involvement in the Defence Supp… Rejected

Recent reports have highlighted the purchase of second-hand Chinese equipment by the Ministry of Defence.

Recent reports have highlighted the purchase of second-hand Chinese equipment by the Ministry of Defence. This is deeply concerning. The purchase of equipment from China for use by the Armed Forces should not be considered a viable option by the Ministry of Defence. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government refutes the claim of purchasing second-hand Chinese equipment, clarifying that the E-7 Wedgetail airframes were US-manufactured Boeing aircraft sourced through Canada and will undergo comprehensive overhaul and stringent security checks.
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence