Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Private Sector Investment

Thursday 12 March 2026 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial efforts include backing priority sectors through the industrial strategy to attract private sector investment.
  • Dave Robertson highlighted the challenges faced by quantum technology firms in securing necessary investment for growth.
  • Andrew Murrison questioned the delay in publishing the defence investment plan, which is hindering private sector investment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Dave Robertson Lab Lichfield
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about the levels of private sector investment and wants to understand what steps the government is taking to increase it.

Question

What steps he is taking to help increase levels of private sector investment.

Answer from Chris McDonald

I thank my hon. Friend, who is an advocate and champion of businesses in Lichfield. As I am sure he is aware, we are making sure that the UK is the best place in the world to invest by backing priority sectors through our industrial strategy. The advanced manufacturing sector plan will strengthen UK supply chains in sectors such as automotive, aerospace and clean energy industries, ensuring that businesses in Lichfield, such as its manufacturing and logistics businesses, get the skills, technology and new commercial opportunities that they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was not directly addressed; no concrete steps were mentioned.

How: We Are Making Sure That The Uk Is The Best Place In The World To Invest

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Q2 Dave Robertson Lab Lichfield
Economy Science & Technology
Context

The MP established the all-party parliamentary group on quantum technologies and is concerned that quantum businesses may take their businesses out of the UK if they do not secure the necessary investment.

Question

The quantum technology sector is hugely important for the UK. We have world-leading researchers and businesses innovating in healthcare, defence and many more industries, but quantum firms tell me that as they grow, they find it harder and harder to secure the investment that they need to commercialise their exceptional ideas. The risk that we face is that they will take their businesses out of the UK in order to seek that investment. That is why I recently established the all-party parliamentary group on quantum technologies to help Members of both Houses to understand this rapidly evolving sector. What can the Government do to ensure that our quantum businesses get the investment that they need to grow here in the UK?

Answer from Chris McDonald

I thank my hon. Friend for his work in establishing the all-party parliamentary group on quantum technologies. He is right to identify these technologies as very important for the future, and to put his finger on the particular problem that we have in the UK: while we are brilliant at innovating and investing in research, we have historically struggled with scale-up. That is not something that this Government are prepared to accept. Just as we are investing in critical minerals and automotive connected mobility technologies, we are investing in this area. The British Business Bank is doubling its annual investments to ensure that we can support scale-up and bring forward at least 10 new-to-market growth-stage funds so that we can leverage pension investments and help British businesses to stay and grow in the UK.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q3 Andrew Murrison Con South West Wiltshire
Defence
Context

The MP is concerned about the failure of the Government to publish their defence investment plan, which is holding back private sector investment.

Question

An increase in private sector investment is being seriously held back by the failure of the Government to publish their defence investment plan. Has the Minister any idea when this much-awaited document will hit the streets?

Answer from Chris McDonald

The Government recognise the importance of the defence industrial plan, which will be brought to the House as soon as it can be. On private sector investment, £10 billion of investment came in from the regional summits, and £79 billion of investment was identified in the last industrial strategy quarterly report. Investors are voting with their money, and they are investing in the UK.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask for a timeline or date was not provided.

How: The Government Recognise The Importance Of The Defence Industrial Plan, Which Will Be Brought To The House As Soon As It Can Be.

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Q4 Harriett Baldwin Con West Worcestershire
Context

The MP is concerned about the service level of the Royal Mail and wants to understand how the meeting with the regulator went.

Question

There was a new private sector investor in the Royal Mail last year. As we heard yesterday in the House, the regulator has let the universal service obligation slip, so will the Minister update the House on how his colleague's meeting with the regulator went yesterday?

Answer from Chris McDonald

The Minister responsible for the Post Office and the Royal Mail, my hon. Friend the Member for East Renfrewshire (Blair McDougall), is sitting beside me. Just yesterday, he spent 90 minutes in the House answering questions from Members who have had problems with the service across the whole of the country; I have seen such problems in my constituency as well. The Government are clearly not happy with the level of service from the Royal Mail, and the shadow Minister will hear a full response to Question 15, when my hon. Friend will stand at the Dispatch Box and tell her everything that she needs to know about that particular meeting.

Not addressed: The specific ask was not addressed; instead, the answerer talked about the Minister answering questions from other Members.

How: The Minister Responsible For The Post Office And The Royal Mail, My Hon. Friend The Member For East Renfrewshire (Blair Mcdougall), Is Sitting Beside Me. Just Yesterday, He Spent 90 Minutes In The House Answering Questions From Members Who Have Had Problems With The Service Across The Whole Of The Country; I Have Seen Such Problems In My Constituency As Well.

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