The UK Government’s draft Industrial Strategy risks missing huge opportunities for growth and decarbonisation according to the Mineral Products Association (MPA).
Representing a £22 billion sector producing essential materials for UK construction and manufacturing, the MPA has expressed concern that the Government’s draft Industrial Strategy, published today (14th October) fails to detail the vital role foundation industries will play in the development of growth-driving sectors.
MPA has already called for an Industrial Strategy that delivers growth and decarbonisation, streamlining mineral planning and providing certainty in the infrastructure pipeline to boost investment. Measures to counter carbon leakage and the pressures to deindustrialise the UK are also sought by the MPA which fears its recommendations are being overlooked as the draft Industrial Strategy largely looks at carbon only as an issue in energy, not industry.
Dr Diana Casey, Executive Director for Climate Change at MPA, said: “Mineral products literally form the foundations for economic development. Our sector also provides more than 80,000 high-quality, well-paid jobs for working people, contributes £8 billion in GVA, supports regional growth and is already playing a key role in energy security and the transition towards Net Zero, especially decarbonising the built environment.
“Net zero is a major opportunity for growth in the mineral products industry, with capacity for Carbon Capture and Storage a clear natural advantage for the UK if the opportunity is seized in sectors such as cement and lime.
“While the Industrial Strategy mentions ‘foundation industries’, such as those represented by our members, and refers to the infrastructure built with the materials produced by our sector, it misses the opportunity to support these foundation industries to grow and decarbonise simultaneously.”
Robert McIlveen, Senior Director for Communications and Public Affairs at MPA, said: “Significant mineral resources will be required to drive growth, an area where the UK has both strong capabilities and untapped potential. These resources will support every sector of the economy as it adapts, grows, and seizes future opportunities.
“We have a well-established track record in long-term stability and on-the-ground delivery, with resilient and largely domestic supply chains. Yet persistent issues in mineral planning continue to be a barrier to investment, while failures in infrastructure delivery further deter growth. For the Industrial Strategy to succeed, the Government needs to prioritise effective strategic planning and delivery to unlock the full potential of the UK economy.
“We recognise this is an initial strategy document and we’ll be sure to submit a robust response to make a strong case to Government for putting foundation sectors at the heart of the strategy in its final version.”
ENDS
About the Mineral Products Association:
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) is the trade association for the aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, dimension stone, lime, mortar and industrial sand industries. With affiliation of the British Association of Reinforcement (BAR), the British Calcium Carbonate Federation, the Cement Admixtures Association (CAA), CONSTRUCT, Eurobitume, MPA Northern Ireland, MPA Scotland and the UK Quality Ash Association (UKQAA), it has a growing membership of 520 companies and is the sectoral voice for mineral products. MPA membership is made up of the vast majority of independent SME quarrying companies throughout the UK, as well as the 9 major international and global companies. It covers 100% of UK cement and lime production, 90% of GB aggregates production, 95% of asphalt and over 70% of ready-mixed concrete and precast concrete production. In 2021, the industry supplied £22 billion worth of materials and services to the Economy. It is also the largest supplier to the construction industry, which had annual output valued at £178 billion. Industry production represents the largest materials flow in the UK economy and is also one of the largest manufacturing sectors.
For media enquiries, contact Robert McIlveen at: Robert.McIlveen@mineralproducts.org