Investment screening powers protect national security and support growth

Cabinet Office Investment Security Unit · 2026-07-14 · UK · verified record

Themes: Cross-sector · Investment security

National Security and Investment Act Annual Report shows 95.6% of notifications reviewed were cleared to proceed without further action. press_release GOV.UK Search API query: "National Security and Investment Act"

Investment screening powers protect national security and support growth National Security and Investment Act Annual Report shows 95.6% of notifications reviewed were cleared to proceed without further action. - National Security and Investment Act Annual Report shows 95.6% of notifications reviewed were cleared to proceed without further action, keeping the burden on business low. - The government received 1,324 notifications during the reporting period, an increase of 16% from the previous year. - Interventions spanned a globally diverse range of investment origins, with final orders and detailed reviews covering transactions involving acquirers associated with the UK, China, Germany, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates, among others. The government took action to block or impose conditions on nine transactions between April 2025 and March 2026, while clearing the vast majority of notifications made under the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, according to the Annual Report published today. Over the year, the government issued a total of 60 call-in notices to review transactions in greater depth. Overall, the government called in acquisitions across almost all specified sensitive sectors, issuing call-in notices in 16 of the 17 areas of the economy subject to mandatory notification. These reviews predominantly focused on the Defence sector, which accounted for 47% of called-in acquisitions, followed by Critical Suppliers to Government and Military & Dual-Use at 33% each. Acquisitions can be associated with multiple areas of the economy. The NSI Act keeps inward investment flowing, while giving the government the power to intervene to protect national security where necessary. The latest statistics demonstrate that the government is operating these powers effectively and transparently, providing investors with the certainty they need to help secure growth across the UK. Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones, said: “The first duty of any government is to keep our nation safe, which is why we are committed to protecting the UK’s national security and safeguarding our most critical infrastructure and supply chains. “Data from this year’s report shows our investment security powers are working effectively.…