UK Steel has welcomed the Government’s revised Public Procurement Note (PPN) for steel.
The latest guidance introduces the ‘comply or explain’ requirement. The rule ensures that contracting authorities actively consider the use of UK-produced steel in public projects and provide more details where alternative sourcing decisions are made.
Gareth Stace, UK Steel Director General, said: "The new 'comply or explain' requirement will ensure buyers actively consider UK-made steel and provide greater transparency and accountability where it is not selected, helping turn Government ambition into practical action.
“As such, this is one of the most significant improvements to public steel procurement in years and a welcome recognition that taxpayer-backed spending should do more to support domestic industry.”
UK Steel has worked closely with the Cabinet Office and Business and Trade ministers throughout the development of this policy.
The revised PPN follows other steel-centric measures by the UK government, such as the Steel Strategy and the publication of national security procurement guidance. UK Steel highlighted that this sort of legislation reflects the Government’s recognition of the importance of supporting domestic steel.
Stace added: "For many years, UK Steel has argued that public procurement should deliver greater value for the UK economy by supporting domestic manufacturing, skilled jobs and resilient supply chains.
“This revised PPN moves procurement beyond simply asking where steel comes from to embedding greater transparency and accountability throughout the purchasing process, utilising the UK Steel Digital Catalogue to drive awareness of product availability."
