Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
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We do not publish a total value for inward FDI with the Commonwealth.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]
Economy | Value (£ million) | Percentage of UK total |
Antigua and Barbuda | 2 | 0.0 |
Australia | 20,781 | 1.0 |
The Bahamas | c | z |
Bangladesh | 1,060 | 0.0 |
Barbados | 19,190 | 0.9 |
Belize | 44 | 0.0 |
Botswana | 16 | 0.0 |
Brunei Darussalam | 6 | 0.0 |
Cameroon | 3 | 0.0 |
Canada | 29,513 | 1.4 |
Cyprus | 6,065 | 0.3 |
Dominica | 6 | 0.0 |
Eswatini | low | 0.0 |
Fiji | 8 | 0.0 |
Gabon | 1 | 0.0 |
The Gambia | 4 | 0.0 |
Ghana | 674 | 0.0 |
Grenada | low | 0.0 |
Guyana | 1 | 0.0 |
India | 12,419 | 0.6 |
Jamaica | 37 | 0.0 |
Kenya | 24 | 0.0 |
Kiribati | low | 0.0 |
Lesotho | low | 0.0 |
Malawi | 4 | 0.0 |
Malaysia | 1,679 | 0.1 |
Maldives | low | 0.0 |
Malta | 6,554 | 0.3 |
Mauritius | 689 | 0.0 |
Mozambique | low | 0.0 |
Namibia | 3 | 0.0 |
Nauru | low | 0.0 |
New Zealand | 908 | 0.0 |
Nigeria | 489 | 0.0 |
Pakistan | 90 | 0.0 |
Papua New Guinea | 2 | 0.0 |
Rwanda | 671 | 0.0 |
St Kitts and Nevis | 31 | 0.0 |
Saint Lucia | 7 | 0.0 |
St Vincent and the Grenadines | 19 | 0.0 |
Samoa | 219 | 0.0 |
Seychelles | 152 | 0.0 |
Sierra Leone | 2 | 0.0 |
Singapore | 19,107 | 0.9 |
Solomon Islands | low | 0.0 |
South Africa | 3,641 | 0.2 |
Sri Lanka | 13,124 | 0.6 |
Tanzania | 2 | 0.0 |
Togo | low | 0.0 |
Tonga | low | 0.0 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 1 | 0.0 |
Tuvalu | low | 0.0 |
Uganda | 5 | 0.0 |
Vanuatu | 8 | 0.0 |
Zambia | 3 | 0.0 |
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]
Economy | Value (£ million) | Percentage of UK total |
Australia | 20,781 | 1.0 |
Brunei Darussalam | 6 | 0.0 |
Canada | 29,513 | 1.4 |
Chile | c | z |
Japan | 78,424 | 3.6 |
Malaysia | 1,679 | 0.1 |
Mexico | c | z |
New Zealand | 908 | 0.0 |
Peru | 7 | 0.0 |
Singapore | 19,107 | 0.9 |
Vietnam | 9 | 0.0 |
[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.
[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
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
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
Rank | Industry | Percentage change at end-2023 compared with end-2020 |
Highest | Administrative and support service activities | 747.6 |
Second | Agriculture, forest and fishing | 98.9 |
Third | Information and communication | 40.3 |
Lowest | Mining and quarrying | -68.3 |
Second | Computer, electronic and optical products | -32.1 |
Third | Professional, scientific and technical services | -29.6 |
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
Rank | Industry | Change in value at end-2023 compared with end-2020 |
Highest | Administrative and support service activities | 163,324 |
Second | Financial services | 76,771 |
Third | Other services | 65,871 |
Lowest | Professional, scientific and technical services | -81,542 |
Second | Mining and quarrying | -67,499 |
Third | Manufacture of petroleum, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber and plastic products | -11,381 |
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
Year | Rank | Industry | Percentage change from previous year |
2021 | Highest | Administrative and support service activities | 502.5 |
2021 | Second | Agriculture, forest and fishing | 51.1 |
2021 | Third | Other services | 26.8 |
2022 | Highest | Computer, electronic and optical products | 59.9 |
2022 | Second | Mining and quarrying | 36.4 |
2022 | Third | Other manufacturing | 30.4 |
2023 | Highest | Agriculture, forest and fishing | 43.1 |
2023 | Second | Information and communication | 32.2 |
2023 | Third | Administrative and support service activities | 26.4 |
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
Year | Rank | Industry | Percentage change from previous year |
2021 | Lowest | Mining and quarrying | -79.1 |
2021 | Second | Computer, electronic and optical products | -34.4 |
2021 | Third | Information and communication | -11.9 |
2022 | Lowest | Professional, scientific and technical services | -15.4 |
2022 | Second | Textiles and wood activities | -8.5 |
2022 | Third | Agriculture, forest and fishing | -8.0 |
2023 | Lowest | Computer, electronic and optical products | -35.3 |
2023 | Second | Transport equipment | -30.2 |
2023 | Third | Professional, scientific and technical services | -27.2 |
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.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
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.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that any elections scheduled for May can take place; and what steps they are taking to ensure that any such elections can take place in line with the restrictions to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.
We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing.
The Government is also bringing forward additional measures to extend the ability to appoint a proxy, so that those that are affected by Covid-19 in the days before the poll are still able to make their voice heard.
Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review. The House will be kept updated.
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the level of (1) imports, and (2) exports, between the UK and South Africa in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Dear Lord Risby,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking about imports and exports between the UK and South Africa, and the UK and India, in each of the last five years (HL7881; HL7882).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on goods and services exports for the UK with South Africa and India[1], which can be found in table 1 below. Please note that data are in current prices and, as such, include the effect of inflation. We do not have total trade data, split by country, on a volume basis (with the effect of inflation removed) at present.
Table 1: UK total trade (goods and services) with South Africa and India, in £ million, non-seasonally adjusted
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
South Africa | Exports | 4853 | 4558 | 4686 | 4570 | 4487 | 4758 |
Imports | 3344 | 3896 | 4161 | 4192 | 5036 | 6270 | |
India | Exports | 7872 | 6909 | 5771 | 6630 | 9226 | 7958 |
Imports | 11225 | 9555 | 10076 | 12052 | 12654 | 16171 | |
Source: ONS
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
Asked by: Lord Risby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the level of (1) imports, and (2) exports, between the UK and India in each of the last five years.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Dear Lord Risby,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking about imports and exports between the UK and South Africa, and the UK and India, in each of the last five years (HL7881; HL7882).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes data on goods and services exports for the UK with South Africa and India[1], which can be found in table 1 below. Please note that data are in current prices and, as such, include the effect of inflation. We do not have total trade data, split by country, on a volume basis (with the effect of inflation removed) at present.
Table 1: UK total trade (goods and services) with South Africa and India, in £ million, non-seasonally adjusted
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | |
South Africa | Exports | 4853 | 4558 | 4686 | 4570 | 4487 | 4758 |
Imports | 3344 | 3896 | 4161 | 4192 | 5036 | 6270 | |
India | Exports | 7872 | 6909 | 5771 | 6630 | 9226 | 7958 |
Imports | 11225 | 9555 | 10076 | 12052 | 12654 | 16171 | |
Source: ONS
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond