Union bosses have criticised the Conservative party after a minister admitted the Royal Navy’s new warships could be built with foreign steel.
Overseas companies are set to snap up multimillion-pound contracts for the fleet of Type 26 frigates, in another hammer blow to South Wales’ crisis-hit industry.
Campaigners have urged the Government to boost UK workers by buying homemade steel.
Alan Coombs, president of steelworkers’ union Community, said: “Britain’s warships should be built using British steel.
“The current steel crisis is a result of unfair trading by China, but this Government could do a lot to help.
“Big projects like the new Type 26 frigates are the perfect opportunity for David Cameron to put his money where his mouth is.”
Eight T-26 Global Combat Ships will replace the Navy’s 13, ageing, Type 23 frigates.
No steel has been ordered yet but the Government has paved the way for quality British products to be snubbed in favour of cheap foreign imports.
Defence Minister Philip Dunne told MPs: “Steel is sourced by our contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers, reflecting the need to ensure a competitive price and delivery at the required time and quality.
“No steel suppliers have been selected or any orders placed for the Type 26 Global Combat Ships.
“It is therefore too early to say how much steel will be used in this programme or from where it will be sourced.”
Responding to a freedom of information request, the Government tried to dodge blame for deals which will be signed later.
“As for all major defence equipment projects, it is the responsibility of our contractors ... to buy the steel on the basis of competitive cost, time and quality,” said the MoD.
Unite assistant general secretary Tony Burke warned it would be “a national scandal if British steel wasn’t used to build the Navy’s new frigates”.
Source: Walesonline