Inward Investment

22.

Mr, Olner
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further steps her Department intends to take to promote inward investment in the United Kingdom. [10047]

Mr. Ian McCartney
My Department's Invest in Britain Bureau will continue to promote the attractions of the UK for mobile international investment to consolidate our position as the No. 1 location in Europe for inward investment. The Government will pursue economic policies which enhance those attractions, including macro-economic stability, an increase in the skills base, "flexibility plus" in labour markets and a positive approach to Europe.

Mr. David Heath
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate she has made of the number of foreign-owned companies, by country, which have established operations in the United Kingdom. [11210]

Mrs. Roche
[holding answer 30 July 1997]: According to information notified to my Department's Invest In Britain Bureau, the numbers of new projects by country of origin between 1979 and to date, are as follows:---------------------
|                   |
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|Australia          |
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|Austria            |
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|Belgium            |
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|Brazil             |
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|Canada             |
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|Denmark            |
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|Finland            |
---------------------
|France             |
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|Germany            |
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|Hong Kong          |
---------------------
|Iceland            |
---------------------
|India              |
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|Indonesia          |
---------------------
|Isle of Man        |
---------------------
|Israel             |
---------------------
|Italy              |
---------------------
|Japan              |
---------------------
|Kenya              |
---------------------
|Korea (South)      |
---------------------
|Liechenstein       |
---------------------
|Malysia            |
---------------------
|Middle East        |
---------------------
|Netherlands        |
---------------------
|New Zealand        |
---------------------
|Norway             |
---------------------
|Portugal           |
---------------------
|Republic of Ireland|
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|Saudi Arabia       |
---------------------
|Singapore          |
---------------------
|South Africa       |
---------------------
|Spain              |
---------------------
|Sweden             |
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|Switzerland        |
---------------------
|Taiwan             |
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|Thailand           |
---------------------
|Turkey             |
---------------------
|Uruguay            |
---------------------
|United States      |
---------------------
1. These figures are based on information on new projects provided by companies at the time of the announcement of the decision to invest and exclude expansions and mergers or acquisitions. There is no requirement to notify the Department and so the figures include only those projects where IBB and its regional partners were involved or which have come to their notice. They take no account of subsequent developments.2. Data collected from 1977 onwards—when IBB was established.