← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
UK-based Tech Companies — [Mr Clive Betts in the Chair]
11 March 2026
Lead MP
Peter Fortune
Bromley and Biggin Hill
Con
Responding Minister
Kanishka Narayan
Tags
EconomyTaxationBusiness & Trade
Word Count: 12795
Other Contributors: 12
At a Glance
Peter Fortune raised concerns about uk-based tech companies — [mr clive betts in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Mr Fortune asks the Government to press the Competition and Markets Authority to issue conduct requirements that protect competition, allowing developers to communicate with their customers and set their own prices. He also urges the CMA to address the risks of cloud concentration by Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, which control 70% to 90% of the UK's cloud computing market.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Mr Fortune is concerned about the dominance of Apple and Google in the UK's mobile app ecosystem, which controls 95% of mobile operating systems and takes up to 30% of every transaction. He cited examples of Apple and Google's monopolistic practices, such as forcing Amazon to remove the 'Buy book' button from the Kindle app and preventing Spotify from including a 'Subscribe' button in its iOS app. The restrictions imposed by these companies stifle innovation, increase consumer prices, and drive British innovation overseas. The Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled that Apple's payment restrictions were neither necessary nor proportionate for security or privacy purposes and were designed to eliminate competition.
Alison Taylor
Lab
Paisley and Renfrewshire North
Alison Taylor highlighted the importance of the UK Government's investment in an innovation zone around Glasgow International Airport, which includes the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland. She mentioned the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland's role in AI-driven production and its contribution to the circular economy. The project has received £30 million from the UK Government and has spurred further investment in advanced manufacturing and emerging sectors such as photonics, net zero shipping, and green jobs. Alison Taylor asked Jim Shannon if tech companies perform best in innovation zones where they can share knowledge and link with academia.
Chris Evans
Lab Co-op
Caerphilly
Chris Evans highlighted the potential of high technology to offer new growth opportunities in his constituency, focusing on a company called Academii. He mentioned that Academii secured £700,000 of investment from the Welsh Labour Government to develop its platform and expand its workforce. Evans discussed the importance of spin-out companies, noting that they channelled £3.35 billion of investment into university research in 2024. He pointed out that the Government's £40 million allocation to early-stage spin-out companies is insufficient and that UK-based investors avoid scale-up investments, leading to a funding gap for spin-out companies.
Clive Betts
Lab
Sheffield South East
Can the Minister make sure that he allows two minutes at the end for the mover to wind up?
Dan Aldridge
Lab
Weston-super-Mare
Dan Aldridge noted that a lack of access to information, advice, and guidance is a significant barrier for small businesses in his constituency. He specifically mentioned the small business start-up loans, which many businesses were unaware of. Aldridge asked the Minister how communication can be improved to reach areas such as Weston-super-Mare. Dan Aldridge briefly paid tribute to lecturers at universities in Northern Ireland for their cyber-security work and suggested that Alison Taylor connect with the British Computer Society's Northern Ireland branch for further collaboration.
Edward Morello
Lib Dem
West Dorset
Edward Morello highlighted the importance of the UK tech sector, which employs more than 1.7 million people and contributes over £150 billion to the economy. He emphasised the need for a supportive ecosystem for innovation, including access to funding, clear regulation, and skilled workers. Morello also stressed the potential of the climate technology sector, noting that the UK's greenhouse gas removal sector is now valued at £1.2 billion, with investment increasing by more than 39% in 2024. However, he pointed out challenges such as the 'valley of death' for climate tech companies transitioning from early innovation to large-scale deployment. Additionally, he highlighted the example of Sintela, a local company in Dorchester that secured a $200 million contract from US Customs and Border Protection, underscoring the importance of supporting small and medium-sized firms in trade missions and international delegations. Invites the Minister to visit the fibre optics company Sintela in West Dorset, highlighting it as one of the UK's biggest success stories.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon highlighted Northern Ireland's position as the cyber-security centre of Europe, attributing this to dedicated focus on training and investment. He cited Queen's University in Belfast's influence on career choices for young people and the success of the Centre for Secure Information Technologies. Shannon emphasized the need for continued funding to maintain this lead and pointed out the economic benefits, including over £258 million in direct gross value added annually and high-paying jobs. He urged the Minister to visit Northern Ireland and ensure continued investment.
Julia Lopez
Con
Hornchurch and Upminster
She congratulated the lead MP and acknowledged the importance of the debate. She highlighted the Conservative government's efforts to develop the UK's digital economy through targeted measures like the SEIS and the creation of the Government Digital Service. Lopez emphasized the risks posed by concentrated power in digital markets and the need for competition to prevent dominance by large firms such as Apple and Google. She expressed concern over the Labour government's reliance on big tech and the potential for entrenching dependency and stifling innovation. She also discussed the need for robust competition measures in the cloud market and the importance of competition policy that prevents large companies from using their market position to drive up prices and crowd out competition.
Mark Sewards
Lab
Leeds South West and Morley
Visited the Nexus innovation hub at the University of Leeds, which faces challenges accessing Government procurement despite having international accreditation equivalent to Cyber Essentials. Asked the Government to recognise these accreditations to avoid stifling innovation.
Mike Martin
Lib Dem
Tunbridge Wells
Mike Martin emphasized the need for the government to support the scaling up of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). He cited the example of DeepMind, which was bought by Google, highlighting the need to create an ecosystem to support tech firms. Martin also discussed the issue of access to capital, using South East Water and NatWest pensions as examples, and suggested reforms to public procurement to enable small firms to secure contracts more quickly.
Rachel Gilmour
Lib Dem
Tiverton and Minehead
Rachel Gilmour highlighted the importance of supporting British tech companies like Shearwell Data in her constituency, which exports livestock management systems internationally. She warned that the flight of UK tech companies to other markets such as the United States shows that Britain must do more to ensure British companies can start, stay and scale here.
Tan Dhesi
Lab
Slough
Tan Dhesi congratulated the hon. Member on securing the debate and highlighted the importance of designating Slough as an artificial intelligence growth zone, given its second largest concentration of data centres in the world and the significant economic return of £1 spent there.
Victoria Collins
Lib Dem
Harpenden and Berkhamsted
Victoria Collins highlighted the success and frustration within the UK tech sector, emphasizing the need for more government support. She called for better procurement policies to favour UK products, faster funding for scale-ups, better talent retention, smarter regulation, and support for small businesses. She cited numerous tech leaders who expressed concerns over procurement bias, funding limitations, and regulatory burdens.
Government Response
Kanishka Narayan
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Mr Betts. I thank the hon. Member for Bromley and Biggin Hill for securing this important debate on Government support for UK-based tech companies. This Government are committed to supporting the UK's thriving tech ecosystem, which is valued at nearly £1 trillion. The Minister addresses concerns on competition policy, noting the CMA's monitoring of firm compliance and the possibility of further action if commitments are not met. The Minister acknowledges the shadow Minister's history of the UK tech sector over 14 years, expressing a need for higher ambition in global competition. The Minister highlights the Government's support for clusters anchored by Welsh universities, Leeds's Nexus hub, and the innovation zone in Paisley and Renfrewshire North. In response to procurement concerns, the Minister expresses a strong focus on SME representation on trade missions and the importance of clean energy technology. The Minister outlines the Government's initiatives to support tech companies at every stage of their development, including R&D investment, scaling up companies, and infrastructure support. The Minister also discusses international collaboration and the importance of global capital, compute, and talent in fostering a vibrant tech ecosystem. The Minister concludes by emphasizing the culture of innovation and success in the UK's tech sector.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.