Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure the UK remains the largest market for international investment in Europe, and whether the artificial intelligence sector can play a role in achieving this.

Over the last 20 years the UK (£720 billion) has attracted more Greenfield FDI than Germany (£305 billion) and France (£205 billion) combined. My department will continue to work with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Office for Investment to support significant overseas companies to invest and expand their footprint in the UK, and ensure that local communities benefit from the digital industrial revolution.

As set out in the AI Opportunities Action Plan presented earlier this month, AI Growth Zones will be established across the UK. Government will support these dedicated hotbeds of development to build the infrastructure needed to power and train cutting-edge AI. By partnering with the private sector, we will create vibrant hubs that attract investment, support new jobs, and rejuvenate communities.