Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Investment Security Unit has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Planning Inspectorate and (b) Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project processes to safeguard against national security risks from investment by (i) inappropriate or (ii) hostile overseas sources.

The Investment Security Unit in the Cabinet Office is responsible for administering the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021, which provides robust investment screening 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 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.