Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Inward Investment: UK and other European Countries

Thursday 19 November 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK's inward foreign direct investment stock reached 1.5 trillion in 2018, marking a new record.
  • The UK held the highest foreign direct investment stock in Europe in 2019 according to the United Nations conference on trade and development.
  • The Government aims to increase trade and investment with the Asia-Pacific region, having signed a free trade agreement with Japan and negotiating FTAs with Australia and New Zealand.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Mark Eastwood
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is seeking an analysis of inward investment into the UK compared to other European countries.

Question

What comparative assessment has been made of the level of inward investment into (a) the UK and (b) other European countries?

Answer from Graham Stuart

Latest Office for National Statistics figures report that the UK's inward foreign direct investment stock reached £1.5 trillion in 2018—a new record. According to the United Nations conference on trade and development, the UK held the highest FDI stock in Europe in 2019. The Financial Times FDI report highlights that last year the UK had more greenfield FDI projects than any other country in Europe at 1,271; by comparison, Germany had 702 and Spain 658.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Mark Eastwood
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is asking about measures to boost investment and trading relationships between the UK and Asia-Pacific countries, particularly Pakistan.

Question

I congratulate the Minister on the impressive inward investment results so far. What is he doing to boost investment and broader trading relationships between the UK and the Asia-Pacific region and, in particular, those with Pakistan?

Answer from Graham Stuart

The Government remain committed to increasing trade and investment with the Asia-Pacific region. We have signed a free trade agreement with Japan, are negotiating FTAs with Australia and New Zealand and hope to be able to apply for formal accession to the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership. At the end of the transition period, the UK will put in place its own generalised scheme of preferences, and Pakistan will continue to receive the same market access to the UK next year.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)