The government blocked or imposed conditions on nine transactions under national security investment screening powers between April 2025 and March 2026, according to an annual report published today.
The National Security and Investment Act report says the government received 1,324 notifications during the reporting period, up 16% from the previous year. Of the 1,220 notifications reviewed, 95.6% were cleared to proceed with no further action.
Ministers issued 60 call-in notices for more detailed reviews. The government says decisions on whether to call in or clear all notified acquisitions were taken within the statutory 30-working-day review period, despite the increased volume of notifications.
The call-ins covered 16 of the 17 sensitive areas of the economy subject to mandatory notification. Reviews were concentrated in the defence sector, which accounted for 47% of called-in acquisitions. Critical suppliers to government and military and dual-use areas each accounted for 33%, with some acquisitions linked to more than one sector.
The report says final orders and detailed reviews involved transactions with acquirers associated with a range of countries, including the UK, China, Germany, the United States and the United Arab Emirates. The government says the powers are intended to keep inward investment flowing while allowing intervention where national security requires it.
Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones said the figures showed the investment security regime was taking targeted action to protect national security while allowing most legitimate investment to be cleared quickly.