When ministers HAVE stepped in on security

The Government has intervened in 12 takeovers since the Enterprise Act was created in 2002, allowing it to intervene. Here we look at the seven deals that had conditions placed on them for national security reasons: 2004: Alvis, the British maker of tanks agreed to be bought by US defence firm General Dynamics for £30 million 2004: GKN sold its 50 per cent share in helicopter firm AgustaWestland to the Italian company Finmeccanica, for £1bn

2005: After Italy’s Finmeccanica bought parts of UK defence giant BAE’s communications and avionics business for £364million

2005: When US defence giant Lockheed Martin bought UK military communication firm Insys

2007: In a deal by US firm General Electric to purchase the UK’s Smiths Aerospace, which made parts for aircraft makers and components for engine builders, for £2.5billion

2009: When Atlas Electronic UK, which makes sonar technology, bought UK defence firm Qinetiq’s underwater systems division for £23.5milion

2017: After Chinese firm Hytera bought Sepura, the UK firm that makes walkie talkies for the emergency services, for £74million