Aurelie Delannoy, Economic Affairs Director at MPA, said:

"Today’s commitments on housing, nuclear and prisons, combined with the announcement on Sizewell C, are welcome as long as they are followed through to delivery. This is vital to give our members the confidence to invest in UK production capacity to supply essential materials like aggregates, cement, concrete and asphalt.

“It is good to see a longer-term approach to issues such as defence and housing, but to be truly strategic the Government needs to factor-in the supply chain, ensuring UK producers can provide the construction materials and industrial minerals that are central to the delivery of these ambitions.

“The Chancellor’s recognition that 'Where things are made, and who makes them, matters,' is especially welcome, and must be applied to essential materials in our sector, especially cement.”

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. MPA is the sectoral voice for mineral products, covering 100% of UK cement and lime production, 90% of GB aggregates production, 95% of asphalt and over 60% 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 flow of materials in the UK economy and is also one of the largest manufacturing sectors.

For media enquiries, contact Robert McIlveen at: Robert.McIlveen@mineralproducts.org