Written questions by Anderson.

Whether his Department has identified priority sectors for future trade co-operation with India.

The UK-India Trade Deal will open up new opportunities across a wide range of sectors, including in the high-growth sectors outlined in the Industrial Strategy. As part of his recent visit to India, the Prime Minister brought over 100 businesses to India to unlock further growth in the mutually agreed priority sectors of construction, infrastructure and clean energy, advanced manufacturing, defence, education, sport, culture, financial and professional business services, science, technology and innovation, consumer goods and food. The Department will continue to support opportunities for trade and investment across these sectors as we integrate the work of the Industrial Strategy with our Trade Strategy.

What plans his Department has to expand the UK’s investment promotion activities targeted at sovereign wealth funds.

As part of the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy, the government announced the creation of the Strategic Investment Opportunities Unit to shape and unlock investment opportunities for strategic investment. This includes originating new investment opportunities that can leverage private capital, including Sovereign Wealth Funds, and deliver government objectives, including to meet the UK’s infrastructure needs, and deliver our Industrial Strategy across the UK. This follows the OfI’s expansion last year, to strengthen our footing globally with the deepest pools of capital.

What mechanisms his Department plans to use to monitor the implementation of (a) funding and (b) job commitments announced following the Prime Minister’s visit to India in October 2025.

All companies involved in the announcements have a dedicated account manager from the Department for Business and Trade and the Office for Investment. Account managers actively engage with these companies on a regular basis to seek updates on the announced investments, assist with any challenges they face in their investment and discuss further expansion plans.

What assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK financial markets infrastructure to support further issuances of Islamic financial instruments.

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub. The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025. The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council. The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026. Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda. Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

What steps her Department is taking to promote UK-based Islamic finance capabilities in international markets.

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub. The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025. The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council. The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026. Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda. Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the UK’s sovereign sukuk programme.

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub. The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025. The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council. The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026. Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda. Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential contribution of Islamic finance to achieving the Government’s green finance and sustainability objectives.

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub. The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025. The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council. The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026. Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda. Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK’s Islamic finance sector on the Government’s objective of strengthening the UK’s position as a leading global financial centre.

The UK is the leading Western destination for Islamic finance businesses. The Islamic finance sector also has a role in the overall UK financial ecosystem by providing sharia-compliant products for the UK’s Muslim population as well as its contribution to the UK’s competitiveness as an Islamic finance hub. The Government aims to build the right environment to allow businesses to capitalise on growth opportunities in the UK and also promotes the UK’s capabilities and expertise overseas. For example, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury visited the UAE and Saudi Arabia in February 2025 and attended the UK-Saudi Arabia GREAT FUTURES Leadership Summit in September 2025. The Government is considering opportunities to support the Islamic finance sector through UK trade agreements with partners which have significant domestic markets for shariah-compliant finance, such as the Gulf Cooperation Council. The UK's two sovereign sukuk issuances have been successful in providing a platform for and helping to maintain the UK’s position as the leading western hub for Islamic finance while also supporting the UK’s Islamic banks. Given the development of the sector in the last decade and the relatively high cost of issuing sukuk, the Government is not at this time planning to issue another Sukuk after the current Sukuk matures in summer 2026. Officials continue to engage with industry and international partners to explore opportunities for synergies between Islamic finance and the sustainability agenda. Islamic financial instruments are covered under the same legislative and regulatory framework as their conventional equivalents, and the Government works to address any unintended differences that may arise.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the Tenant Farmers Commissioner on agricultural productivity in Buckinghamshire.

The Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector in England has been appointed by the Government to strengthen relationships and collaboration between tenant farmers, landlords and advisers in all parts of England including Buckinghamshire. Tenant farmers, landlords and advisors working in the tenanted sector in Buckinghamshire can contact the Commissioner to raise an issue or enquiry relating to tenancy matters through the Commissioner’s webpages at Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector: role and services - GOV.UK. The Government is committed to keeping the effectiveness of this approach under review.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that inward investment from India contributes to the UK’s net zero targets.

DBT’s recently published Industrial Strategy sets out the Government’s ambition to be a global leader in clean energy by 2035, doubling investment levels across our frontier clean energy industries to over £30billion per year and creating good jobs across the country. To support this, the Office for Investment acts as a dedicated unit and proactive sales force for the UK, working internationally to secure transformational investment in line with HMGs strategic priorities. It has the commercial knowledge and expertise to originate and land deals, including working to land investment from India.

What assessment he has made of the potential contribution of foreign sovereign wealth funds to the Government’s strategy for attracting long-term investment into the UK economy.

The Government recognises the important role that foreign sovereign wealth funds play in supporting long-term investment in the UK. The UK continues to attract significant investment from sovereign wealth funds, including through strategic partnerships with funds from the Gulf region. This includes a recent £2 billion investment partnership with Bahrain to support sectors such as clean energy, technology, and manufacturing. This investment contributes to economic growth, job creation, and the development of key infrastructure across the country.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Tenant Farmers Commissioner has adequate powers to help tackle tenancy disputes.

As a non-statutory role, the Commissioner will promote and encourage good relations between tenants, landlords, and advisors, and provide a neutral and confidential point of contact for anyone who has concerns that the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for England is not being followed. Where concerns or issues cannot be resolved the Commissioner will signpost sources of further professional advice as appropriate. The Government is committed to keeping the effectiveness of this approach under review.

With reference to the press notice entitled New defence deals with India deepen strategic partnership and boosts UK business, published on 9 October 2025, what estimate his Department has made of the potential value of contracts for defence supply chain companies in (a) the UK and (b) Buckingham and Bletchley constituency following the defence agreements signed with India.

UK defence industry stands to benefit from over £350 million from contracts secured for maritime electric propulsion and Lightweight Multirole Missiles. These initial contracts will incorporate content sourced directly from the UK’s extensive defence supply chain network. The announced deals have the potential to deliver additional agreements in the future, further boosting UK businesses, jobs and growth.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the UK’s investment screening regime supports responsible sovereign wealth fund investment.

The UK has close investment relationships with many of the world’s sovereign wealth funds, supporting mutually beneficial, strategic investment into the UK. The National Security and Investment Act (NSIA) 2021 gives the UK Government the power to scrutinise and, where necessary, intervene in a transaction that is captured by the act regardless of the acquirer. Every NSIA transaction is taken on its own merit, on a case-by-case basis. The legislation enables investment into sensitive sectors of our economy while providing robust protections to ensure the UK’s national security is not compromised.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the new defence agreements with India on UK defence exports.

The recent agreements made with India will positively affect UK defence exports in areas such as maritime electric propulsion and complex weapons. We are also exploring opportunities for further collaboration with India through implementation of a Defence Industrial Roadmap, including in emerging technologies and land mobility platforms.

What steps his Department plans to take to help ensure that defence industrial co-operation with India supports UK strategic priorities.

The UK and Indian Governments are working together on extensive defence capability collaboration to strengthen supply chain resilience which will feature co-development and co-production of selected capabilities. This aligns with objectives published in both the Strategic Defence Review and the Defence Industrial Strategy. Both countries will enjoy an established portfolio of capabilities across multiple domains, enabling interoperability by our Armed Forces and mutual prosperity for our defence industries.

What steps his Department is taking to strengthen the UK’s institutional relationships with major global sovereign wealth funds.

This government expanded the Office for Investment (OfI) including pursuing deeper investment collaboration with global sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) in support of our first Modern Industrial Strategy. The OfI manages multi-billion-pound Sovereign and Strategic Investment Partnerships with SWFs and provides a channel for collaboration. The OfI has already facilitated multi-billion-pounds in commitments and multi-billion-pounds in capital deployed from these partners, contributing to growth and prosperity across the country. This effort continues; The Government is sending a senior delegation to the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia later this month to strengthen ties further with Saudi and global SWFs.

Whether his Department has undertaken analysis of barriers to inward investment from sovereign wealth funds into UK (a) infrastructure and (b) growth sectors.

This government maintains strong relationships with leading sovereign wealth funds, engaging in regular dialogue to understand barriers they face when investing in UK infrastructure and growth sectors. The UK's 10 Year Strategy Infrastructure aims to restore confidence and drive growth with £725 billion for infrastructure, transforming project delivery. The Industrial Strategy White Paper identified key investment barriers including planning delays, infrastructure gaps, regulatory burdens, and skills shortages. Government reforms to address these barriers include the Strategic Sites Accelerator, regulatory innovation, planning improvements, and targeted support for industrial clusters and skills development.

What recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of sovereign wealth fund partnerships on UK regional growth priorities.

Increasing economic growth is a strong priority of this Government and ensuring growth is felt in all regions of the UK is a core part of the Growth Mission. The Government recognises the important role that sovereign wealth fund partnerships can play in supporting this mission. This Government has expanded the Office for Investment (OfI) including pursuing deeper investment collaboration with global sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) in support of our first Modern Industrial Strategy. The OfI manages multi-billion-pound Sovereign and Strategic Investment Partnerships with SWFs and provides a channel for collaboration. The OfI has already facilitated over £30bn in commitments and approximately £20bn in capital deployed from these partners, contributing to growth and prosperity across the country.

With reference to the press notice entitled World-leading UK higher education sector expands in India and bolsters growth at home, published on 9 October 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the expansion of higher education partnerships in India on the economy.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, is pleased that 14 university Vice Chancellors and representatives joined my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, in his recent trip to India in recognition of the increased demand for higher education (HE) in India, which has created an opportunity for UK universities seeking new funding streams. HE is one of the UK’s greatest exports, and international education was worth £32 billion in export revenue in 2022. The UK’s HE sector is set to bring in a £50 million boost over the next five years to the economy as part of a major expansion of British universities in India.