Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the potential security implications of the proposed merger between Vodafone and Three.

As an open economy, we welcome investment where it supports UK growth and jobs, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security. The Government has robust powers under the National Security & Investment Act to block or impose remedies on transactions that pose a national security risk.

As you will appreciate, we cannot comment on specific acquisitions nor the applicability of the National Security and Investment regime.