The Modern Industrial Strategy published in June 2025 will increase business investment and grow the industries of the future in the UK. Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs) are the UK’s primary place-based growth interventions, I will therefore refer to ISZs when answering your questions:

There are 22 ISZs in delivery across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland comprising nine Freeports, ten Investment Zones (IZs) and three regions with both a Freeport and IZ. We do not hold information on the total land area they cover, however, maps of Investment Zones can be found here and maps of Freeports can be found here.

ISZs do not operate under separate legal regimes. Businesses must comply with all applicable UK laws, standards and protections, including on workers’ rights, as reflected in programme guidance and funding agreements.

Each ISZ has a named public authority which acts as its accountable body, ensuring the transparent functioning of the ISZ and the proper management of public funding. Oversight and transparency has been strengthened further through the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, including greater mayoral oversight in England and the publication of Freeport board minutes.

The Government will publish an evaluation in due course.

Special Economic Zones is an umbrella term that covers Industrial Strategy Zones and Enterprise Zones. The UK’s Industrial Strategy Zones include both Freeports and Investment zones.

For Freeports, the latest cost in 2023-24 (excluding Business Rates) can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-reliefs/tax-relief-statistics-january-2026.

For Investment Zones, the cost in 2025-26 (including Business Rates) can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spring-budget-2024.

For the Capital Allowances relief in Enterprise Zones the latest cost for 2019-20 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tax-reliefs/tax-relief-statistics-january-2026.

MHCLG published Business Rates reliefs statistics and forecasts here: National non-domestic rates collected by councils in England: forecast for 2026 to 2027 - GOV.UK

The Modern Industrial Strategy published in June 2025 will increase business investment and grow the industries of the future in the UK. Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs) are the UK’s primary place-based growth interventions, I will therefore refer to ISZs when answering your questions:

There are 22 ISZs in delivery across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland comprising nine Freeports, ten Investment Zones (IZs) and three regions with both a Freeport and IZ. We do not hold information on the total land area they cover, however, maps of Investment Zones can be found here and maps of Freeports can be found here.

ISZs do not operate under separate legal regimes. Businesses must comply with all applicable UK laws, standards and protections, including on workers’ rights, as reflected in programme guidance and funding agreements.

Each ISZ has a named public authority which acts as its accountable body, ensuring the transparent functioning of the ISZ and the proper management of public funding. Oversight and transparency has been strengthened further through the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, including greater mayoral oversight in England and the publication of Freeport board minutes.

The Government will publish an evaluation in due course.

The Modern Industrial Strategy published in June 2025 will increase business investment and grow the industries of the future in the UK. Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs) are the UK’s primary place-based growth interventions, I will therefore refer to ISZs when answering your questions:

There are 22 ISZs in delivery across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland comprising nine Freeports, ten Investment Zones (IZs) and three regions with both a Freeport and IZ. We do not hold information on the total land area they cover, however, maps of Investment Zones can be found here and maps of Freeports can be found here.

ISZs do not operate under separate legal regimes. Businesses must comply with all applicable UK laws, standards and protections, including on workers’ rights, as reflected in programme guidance and funding agreements.

Each ISZ has a named public authority which acts as its accountable body, ensuring the transparent functioning of the ISZ and the proper management of public funding. Oversight and transparency has been strengthened further through the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, including greater mayoral oversight in England and the publication of Freeport board minutes.

The Government will publish an evaluation in due course.

The Modern Industrial Strategy published in June 2025 will increase business investment and grow the industries of the future in the UK. Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs) are the UK’s primary place-based growth interventions, I will therefore refer to ISZs when answering your questions:

There are 22 ISZs in delivery across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland comprising nine Freeports, ten Investment Zones (IZs) and three regions with both a Freeport and IZ. We do not hold information on the total land area they cover, however, maps of Investment Zones can be found here and maps of Freeports can be found here.

ISZs do not operate under separate legal regimes. Businesses must comply with all applicable UK laws, standards and protections, including on workers’ rights, as reflected in programme guidance and funding agreements.

Each ISZ has a named public authority which acts as its accountable body, ensuring the transparent functioning of the ISZ and the proper management of public funding. Oversight and transparency has been strengthened further through the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, including greater mayoral oversight in England and the publication of Freeport board minutes.

The Government will publish an evaluation in due course.

The Modern Industrial Strategy published in June 2025 will increase business investment and grow the industries of the future in the UK. Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs) are the UK’s primary place-based growth interventions, I will therefore refer to ISZs when answering your questions:

There are 22 ISZs in delivery across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland comprising nine Freeports, ten Investment Zones (IZs) and three regions with both a Freeport and IZ. We do not hold information on the total land area they cover, however, maps of Investment Zones can be found here and maps of Freeports can be found here.

ISZs do not operate under separate legal regimes. Businesses must comply with all applicable UK laws, standards and protections, including on workers’ rights, as reflected in programme guidance and funding agreements.

Each ISZ has a named public authority which acts as its accountable body, ensuring the transparent functioning of the ISZ and the proper management of public funding. Oversight and transparency has been strengthened further through the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, including greater mayoral oversight in England and the publication of Freeport board minutes.

The Government will publish an evaluation in due course.

The Modern Industrial Strategy published in June 2025 will increase business investment and grow the industries of the future in the UK. Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs) are the UK’s primary place-based growth interventions, I will therefore refer to ISZs when answering your questions:

There are 22 ISZs in delivery across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland comprising nine Freeports, ten Investment Zones (IZs) and three regions with both a Freeport and IZ. We do not hold information on the total land area they cover, however, maps of Investment Zones can be found here and maps of Freeports can be found here.

ISZs do not operate under separate legal regimes. Businesses must comply with all applicable UK laws, standards and protections, including on workers’ rights, as reflected in programme guidance and funding agreements.

Each ISZ has a named public authority which acts as its accountable body, ensuring the transparent functioning of the ISZ and the proper management of public funding. Oversight and transparency has been strengthened further through the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, including greater mayoral oversight in England and the publication of Freeport board minutes.

The Government will publish an evaluation in due course.

The Modern Industrial Strategy published in June 2025 will increase business investment and grow the industries of the future in the UK. Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs) are the UK’s primary place-based growth interventions, I will therefore refer to ISZs when answering your questions:

There are 22 ISZs in delivery across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland comprising nine Freeports, ten Investment Zones (IZs) and three regions with both a Freeport and IZ. We do not hold information on the total land area they cover, however, maps of Investment Zones can be found here and maps of Freeports can be found here.

ISZs do not operate under separate legal regimes. Businesses must comply with all applicable UK laws, standards and protections, including on workers’ rights, as reflected in programme guidance and funding agreements.

Each ISZ has a named public authority which acts as its accountable body, ensuring the transparent functioning of the ISZ and the proper management of public funding. Oversight and transparency has been strengthened further through the Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan, including greater mayoral oversight in England and the publication of Freeport board minutes.

The Government will publish an evaluation in due course.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

UK Freeports have played an important role in building the foundations for long-term regional and national growth and, alongside Investment Zones, they will be pivotal tools for delivering growth in the government’s priority sectors under the shared identity ‘Industrial Strategy Zones’.

As set out in the UK Freeports Programme Report (June 2025), Freeports have attracted £6.4 billion in private investment, with 89% of this total investment coming from overseas investors, demonstrating the international competitiveness of Freeports.

To assess the future economic impact of Freeports, MHCLG commissioned Arup to conduct analysis. This projected that the eight English Freeports would create around 60,000 net new jobs and support an additional 42,000 jobs across the supply chain, contributing approximately £6.6 billion per year in GVA. Further analysis is being undertaken, the results of which will be published in due course.

The government is committed to public transparency, accountability, and oversight for all Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs), the collective term for Freeports and Investment Zones. The ISZs Action Plan and the latest Freeports Programme Report, both published in June 2025, set out the steps being taken to deliver upon these requirements, including by holding at least one public meeting a year and publishing all meeting minutes.

To ensure elected local leaders have oversight, all ISZs in England have a local authority or Mayoral Strategic Authority acting as their accountable body, providing public transparency and accountability for the management of funding and their ongoing development. These mechanisms underpin a programme that has attracted £6.4 billion in private investment to date, unlocking regeneration and new jobs for local communities, and delivering upon the government's number one priority of economic growth.

The government is committed to public transparency, accountability, and oversight for all Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs), the collective term for Freeports and Investment Zones. The ISZs Action Plan and the latest Freeports Programme Report, both published in June 2025, set out the steps being taken to deliver upon these requirements, including by holding at least one public meeting a year and publishing all meeting minutes.

To ensure elected local leaders have oversight, all ISZs in England have a local authority or Mayoral Strategic Authority acting as their accountable body, providing public transparency and accountability for the management of funding and their ongoing development. These mechanisms underpin a programme that has attracted £6.4 billion in private investment to date, unlocking regeneration and new jobs for local communities, and delivering upon the government's number one priority of economic growth.

Freeports and Investment Zones, now integrated as Industrial Strategy Zones (ISZs), are delivering strong results for UK inward investment, supporting the government's number one priority – economic growth.

They have attracted over £6.4 billion in private investment to date, including Siemens Gamesa's £186 million wind turbine factory in the Humber and Nissan's £1.12 billion investment in the Northeast Investment Zone.

Over their lifetime, ISZs are projected to generate over £60 billion of private investment, with a focus on the high-growth sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy. Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation of ISZs will track progress and impact against this projection.

We are investing £4.8 billion during 2025/26 to operate, maintain, renew and enhance the Strategic Road Network, supporting journeys right across the country, enabling connectivity and economic growth.

We have committed to delivering several major road schemes which will service Industrial Strategy Zones including the A63 Castle Street supporting Humber Freeport, A52 Nottingham Junctions supporting East Midlands Freeport and Investment Zone, and Lower Thames Crossing supporting the Thames Freeport. We will set out our future plans for investment in the SRN through the publication of RIS3, no later than March 2026.

As detailed in guidance, Green Freeports are required to implement robust tax site management strategies that ensure investments align with the overarching vision and policy objectives.

Green Freeports must ensure that their partners deliver on the commitments set out in the approved business case. To support this, tax site landholders are expected to enter into formal legal agreements with the Green Freeport operating company to enforce compliance including fair work practices and net zero commitments. The governments reserve the right to sanction Green Freeports where these commitments are not upheld.

As policies developed in partnership with local partners, MHCLG has not set specific targets for job creation in Freeports, nor in Investment Zones, its other major economic zone policy.

However, Freeports have set out the economic impacts they expect to deliver through business cases, available on Freeports’ websites once approved by government. MHCLG-commissioned analysis projects that the 8 English Freeports alone will directly create 60,000 additional jobs and will support another 42,000 jobs across the supply chain. Local partners expect that Investment Zones across the UK will create over 90,000 jobs over the life cycle of the programme.

The Department will track job creation by Freeports and Investment Zones, as a key indicator of their economic impact. To date, Freeports have attracted £6.4 billion in private investment, which is expected to create at least 7,200 jobs.

While the Department oversees the Freeports Programme, it does not collect data on the ownership of individual assets within Freeport areas. However, the vast majority of Freeport sites were in private ownership at the point of designation, reflecting the Programme’s aim to stimulate private investment and create jobs in parts of the country that see too little of it.