Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of foreign investment in the UK comes from countries situated in (1) the European Union, (2) the Commonwealth and (3) the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership area.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.

Darren Tierney | Permanent Secretary

The Lord Risby

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

25 November 2025

Dear Lord Risby,

As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Question to asking what proportion of foreign investment in the UK comes from countries situated in (1) the European Union, (2) the Commonwealth and (3) the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership area (HL12070).

Our statistics for inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) positions measure the investment held by UK-resident companies that have foreign immediate parent companies. These are essentially the stock of investment held at a point in time. Table 3.1 of our annual Foreign direct investment involving UK companies (directional): inward statistics shows that the stock of inward direct investment from the European Union was £758,137 million at the end of 2023[1]. This was equivalent to 34.8% of the UK total inward FDI position.

We do not publish a total value for inward FDI with the Commonwealth. However, we have published FDI statistics for all countries. Table 1 below includes the FDI inward FDI position values and percentage of the UK total FDI position accounted for by each Commonwealth country in 2023.

We also do not routinely publish a total value for inward FDI with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) countries. However, we have published FDI statistics for all countries. Table 2 below includes the FDI inward position values and percentage of the UK total accounted for by each member of the CPTPP in 2023.

Yours sincerely,

Darren Tierney

Table 1: Inward foreign direct investment positions with Commonwealth countries at the end of 2023, £ million and as a percentage of the UK total inward FDI position[2],[3],[4],[5],[6]

Table 2: Inward foreign direct investment positions with Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership countries at the end of 2023,
£ million and as a percentage of the UK total 3,5,6,[7]

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessinnovation/datasets/foreigndirectinvestmentinvolvingukcompanies2013inwardtables/current

[2] There were 55 other members of the Commonwealth plus the UK as of 21 November 2025 according to the Commonwealth Secretariat: https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries

[3] “c” denotes value suppressed to protect confidentiality so that individual companies cannot be identified.

[4] “low” denotes a value below £0.5 million.

[5] “z” is used where the country value is suppressed, and the percentage of the UK total will not be available.

[6]https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/nationalaccounts/balanceofpayments/adhocs/2904foreigndirectinvestmentfditotalsforinwardandoutwardflowspositionsandearnings2021to2023

[7] CPTPP membership was taken from gov.uk, and includes the members that had ratified the UK’s accession and those that had yet to ratify as of 21 November 2025

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the National Security and Investment Act 2021 in preventing hostile foreign influence on UK national infrastructure projects; and what safeguards are currently in place to prevent investment from countries with geopolitical interests and activities which conflict with the UK’s national security.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021 provides powers for the Government to scrutinise and, where necessary, intervene in acquisitions which could present a risk to the UK’s national security. If required, the Government has the ability to impose conditions, block or unwind acquisitions. The Act provides legally defined timelines and processes for decisions from the Government.

The Government welcomes investment as part of our mission to boost growth, but only where it meets our regulatory requirements and does not compromise our national security. We will not hesitate to use our powers to protect national security where we identify concerns.

The latest NSI Act annual report, published in July, can be found on GOV.UK, and shows that the National Security and Investment system is continuing to operate well to protect sensitive sectors, whilst supporting investment.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which sectors have experienced (1) the highest growth in foreign investment, and (2) the largest decline in foreign investment, over the past three years.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.

Darren Tierney | Permanent Secretary

The Lord Risby

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

25 November 2025

Dear Lord Risby,

As Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking which sectors have experienced (1) the highest growth in foreign investment, and (2) the largest decline in foreign investment, over the past three years (HL12068).

Our statistics for inward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) positions measure the investment held by UK-resident companies that have foreign immediate parent companies. FDI positions are essentially the stock of investment held at a point in time. Our statistics are defined by the Standard Industrial Classification 2007 (SIC07), and our published results disaggregate UK total FDI into 18 industries.

· Table 1 shows the three industries with the biggest percentage increase and decrease in FDI positions at the end of 2023 compared with the end of 2020.

· Table 2 includes the three industries with the highest and lowest value increases for inward FDI positions at the end of 2023 compared with at the end of 2020.

· Table 3 gives the three industries with the highest annual percentage increase in FDI positions compared with the end of the previous year for each year between 2021 and 2023.

· Table 4 gives the three industries with the lowest annual percentage increase (biggest decrease) in FDI positions for each year between 2021 and 2023.

Yours sincerely,

Darren Tierney

Table 1: Industries with the highest and lowest percentage increase at the end of 2023 compared with the end of 2020 for inward foreign direct investment positions

Source: Foreign direct investment involving UK companies (directional): inward[1],2

Table 2: Industries with the highest and lowest value increase at the end of 2023 compared with the end of 2020 for inward foreign direct investment positions, £ million

Source: Foreign direct investment involving UK companies (directional): inward1,[2]

Table 3: Industries with the highest annual percentage increase for inward foreign direct investment positions, 2021 to 2023

Source: Foreign direct investment involving UK companies (directional): inward1,2

Table 4: Industries with the lowest annual percentage increase for inward foreign direct investment positions, 2021 to 2023

Source: Foreign direct investment involving UK companies (directional): inward1,2

[1] Foreign direct investment statistics disaggregated by main industrial activity does not include banks, bank holding companies, public corporations and property. The FDI of these entities is included in the UK total.

[2]https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessinnovation/datasets/foreigndirectinvestmentinvolvingukcompanies2013inwardtables/current

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government which areas of the United Kingdom have experienced the largest decreases in foreign investment since 2023; and what steps they are taking to ensure the even distribution of foreign investment throughout the UK.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

DBT Official Statistics on inward investment show that FDI project numbers into the UK fell from 2023/24 to 2024/25, with London seeing the largest drop and the East of England recording the biggest percentage decline. Year-on-year changes remain volatile and should be interpreted cautiously.

To attract investment, mayoral strategic authorities are delivering growth plans aligned with local strengths and clear pipelines. Our strategy focuses on enhancing infrastructure, skills, and sector clusters to make all UK regions competitive for long-term foreign investment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the performance of foreign direct investment in the UK compared to that of the other G7 nations.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

Data published by the United Nations Trade and Development Data Hub show that at the end of 2024 the UK ranked second in the G7 (behind the United States) for levels of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) stock.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the United Kingdom remains internationally competitive in attracting foreign direct investment.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The Government has introduced a modern Industrial Strategy aimed at boosting nationwide growth by removing investment barriers and improving access to finance. The Office for Investment (OfI) has expanded its commercial expertise and regional presence, collaborating with Mayors and Devolved Administrations to link investors with high-potential UK opportunities. Additionally, UK Export Finance has enhanced support for international investment through its new ‘Invest-to-Export’ Guarantee, designed for overseas firms investing in UK export facilities.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of freeports and special economic zones on UK inward investment trends.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Freeports and Investment Zones, now integrated as Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs), are delivering strong results for UK inward investment, supporting the government's number one priority – economic growth.

They have attracted over £6.4 billion in private investment to date, including Siemens Gamesa's £186 million wind turbine factory in the Humber and Nissan's £1.12 billion investment in the Northeast Investment Zone.

Over their lifetime, ISZs are projected to generate over £60 billion of private investment, with a focus on the high-growth sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy. Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation of ISZs will track progress and impact against this projection.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's tax regime on foreign direct investment competitiveness.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The UK has considerable economic strengths. It is the second largest services exporter in the world, the second most attractive location to invest in Europe and is ranked sixth in the Global Innovation Index.

Investment is at the heart of the government’s growth mission and is one of its key pillars alongside stability and reform. The UK continues to champion free trade and global investment, supported by over 70 international trade agreements and a competitive tax regime. Our stable fiscal rules and competitive tax system enable international firms to invest confidently and drive innovation across advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and digital technologies.

Investment is critical to growth and we are taking further steps to make the UK the most attractive destination for global investment. As confirmed at the Budget in November 2025, the government has committed over £120 billion of additional departmental capital spending over the course of the Parliament. This investment is being directed to infrastructure and planning priorities that support growth, including supporting regional growth by bringing new affordable homes and improved transport connectivity to more places and supporting energy and net zero priorities through new nuclear power. The National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank are catalysing private investment and the new National Housing Bank will extend that catalytic effect to the housing market. The strategy is working: the UK is attracting international investment, with £150 billion of new confirmed inward investment commitments at the US State Visit in September and further commitments at the Regional Investment Summit in October.

In addition, following the commitments in the Corporate Tax Roadmap in 2024, the government continues to maintain the parts of the UK corporate tax offer that are most important for attracting new investment: a low Corporation Tax main rate of 25% - the lowest in the G7 - a flexible and competitive regime for intangible assets, the Patent Box, and one of the most generous and competitive capital allowances regimes in the world.

The UK is an attractive location for groups to locate their headquarters or holding companies, offering broad exemptions for gains on disposals of substantial shareholdings and a broad exemption for dividends paid to UK companies. There are also limited withholding taxes on outbound payments such as dividends, interest and royalties.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have undertaken on the impact of regulatory burdens on the confidence of foreign investors, and on the UK's competitiveness.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

This Government has recognised that the administrative burden of regulation is too high. We have now established a baseline for the administrative burden of regulation on businesses of £22.4 billion a year. This is why we have committed to reduce this administrative burden by 25%, or £5.6bn, by the end of this Parliament. The Government is working to make the UK the best place to start and grow a business and this approach is designed to create a regulatory environment that is proportionate, transparent and internationally competitive, enabling businesses to innovate and invest with confidence.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need for a coordination service to assist new international investors; and what steps they are taking to deliver this.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The Government has established the service described. It is the Office for Investment (OfI), a joint unit of HM Treasury, the Department for Business and Trade, and Number 10 Downing Street. The OfI was launched in its current form in June 2025, with a remit to source and secure transformational investment that drives economic growth, job creation, and increased productivity across the UK. The OfI operates as a central government function, working across departments and with external partners to attract and land high-value, strategic investments into the UK.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage long-term, high-value entrepreneurship through foreign direct investment.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The Government is taking decisive steps to foster long-term, high-value entrepreneurship through foreign direct investment. Reforms to procurement, generous R&D tax reliefs, and targeted programmes such as BridgeAI, Growth Catalyst (£130 million) and Enterprise Fellowships will unlock capital, markets and talent. Major investment in AI and semiconductors, alongside a three-year stamp duty holiday for UK-listed firms, gives global investors confidence to back UK innovators and drive sustained growth.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to replicating the Office for Investment: Financial Services model for other key strategic sectors identified in the Science and Technology Framework.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The OfI: Financial Services is a bespoke concierge service partnership involving HM Treasury, the OfI, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority, and the City of London Corporation. It was created to address the particular investment-related needs of the FS sector but was deliberately branded as the OfI to reflect its commonality with the OfI’s remit of sourcing and securing transformational investment. Whilst the Government will always consider the optimum approach to attracting investment, the OfI remains the single front door investment delivery body for the UK. The OfI works closely with DSIT to maximise investment in the Tech sector.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to attract greenfield foreign direct investment in sectors crucial to the UK's industrial strategy.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

The UK’s new ten-year Industrial Strategy, launched in June 2025, is explicitly designed to attract and support investment by providing a stable, long-term framework. Targeted initiatives and incentives exist or are planned in areas such as nuclear power expansion, AI Growth Zones, Industrial Strategy Zones and lower energy costs. The Office for Investment (OfI) has expanded its remit, offering tailored support to major and strategically aligned investors. This includes a new Strategic Investment Opportunities team working with local leaders and agencies to identify and deliver high-impact projects, especially in government-priority sectors.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what metrics are used to assess the effectiveness of the Office for Investment's concierge service for high-value investors; and how they ensure that departments and arms-length bodies are accountable for delays or failures in progressing high-value investments supported by the Office for Investment.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

OfI uses a range of metrics to assess the effectiveness of its operations. These are currently for internal use. OfI’s output is reported in the Official Statistics, and cover market origin, sector and distribution of investment across the UK. This will be supported by the OfI Board, which will coordinate investment activity across HMG and is chaired by the Minister for Investment.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address key barriers to foreign direct investment, such as high energy prices and land acquisition costs.

Answered by Lord Stockwood - Minister of State (HM Treasury)

We are taking decisive steps to remove barriers to investment, strengthening the UK’s competitiveness. To address high energy costs, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce industrial electricity prices by up to 25%, supporting thousands of manufacturers. The new Strategic Sites Accelerator, backed by over £600 million, will unlock an initial wave of sites for investment from the growth-driving sectors of the Industrial Strategy from next financial year, with the aim of scaling up the programme over time. These measures form part of a wider strategy to create a pro-investment environment that drives growth and innovation.