Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the UK’s international reputation as a centre for global capital markets of the fall in sums raised through initial public offerings, declining share ownership by households, and the level of investment by UK pension schemes and insurers in the UK stock markets.

The Government has delivered an ambitious programme of reforms to make it easier for all firms to list and raise capital on UK markets. This includes overhauling the Prospectus regime and Listing Rules, providing more flexibility to firms and founders raising capital on UK markets.

At Mansion House 2025, the Government published its Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, setting out our ten-year plan for the UK to be the world’s centre of choice for financial services investment now and in 2035, with capital markets a core pillar.

At Mansion House, the Chancellor also announced the formation of a Listings Taskforce to support businesses to list and grow in the UK.

In the last few weeks, recent IPOs such as The Beauty Tech Group, Princes Group, Fermi America and Shawbrook Bank have highlighted the continued appeal of the London Stock Exchange for ambitious companies.