HC Deb 13 December 1996 vol 287 cc386-7W
Mr. Byers

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of inward investment in each year since 1985 was due to the acquisition, takeover or merger of a United Kingdom company by an overseas investor. [9078]

Mr. Greg Knight

The information is as follows. Source: United Kingdom Balance of payments, "the Pink Book" 1990, 1994, 1996.

Year Per cent. acquisitions in inward investment
1985 15.0
1986 23.2

Year Per cent. acquisitions in inward investment
1987 31.7
1988 26.2
1989 31.7
1990 53.8
1991 52.8
1992 68.3
1993 51.6
1994 43.4
1995 60.1

Although the percentage fluctuates from year to year, reflecting the economic cycle, the flow of total inward investment in 1995 is four and a half times that of 1985; the latest OECD figures show that in 1994 the UK had one third of all inward investment in the EU.