Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether her Department took steps to consider the National Security Advisor's engagement with entities from the People’s Republic of China in his previous employment as part of his vetting process.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office maintains established policies to guide national security vetting decision-makers across government. To safeguard national security, these policies remain confidential and are not published.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if she will take steps to ensure the National Security Advisor appears publicly before the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The NSA has regular meetings with the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy in a private session on national security matters, reflecting their sensitivity. The Government does not routinely comment on them or their content.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether they plan to review the National Security Advisor’s vetting clearance.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
All vetting is kept under constant review. In line with the practice of previous administrations we do not comment on individual clearance cases.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the independence of the Grandview Institution.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government does not routinely comment on the status or affiliations of individual foreign institutions. UK officials engage with a wide range of international research institutes and policy organisations, including those based in China, to better understand international perspectives and developments relevant to our interests and national security. Engagements are conducted in line with Government policies and procedures and do not imply endorsement of any organisation or its views.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will issue guidance warning universities against collaborating with China’ s University of International Relations in the context of the MI5 alert on the China General Technology Research Institute.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
The recent espionage alert on the China General Technology Research Institute is an operational decision taken by MI5. It would not be appropriate to comment on action relating to other institutions.
However, the Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT) in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) work directly with research institutions across the country to help them identify, manage and mitigate national security risks in international research.
RCAT's work is underpinned by Trusted Research guidance from the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and by a robust legislative framework that includes the Academic Technology Approvals Scheme, Export Controls and the National Security and Investment Act.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has analysed whether funding from the China General Technology Research Institute to UK universities was directed through other organisations.
Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security) (Jointly with the Cabinet Office)
It would not be appropriate to provide details about the specific arrangements of academics or specific institutions.
However, we have been clear that any academic or institution should cease research ultimately funded by CGTRI.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether reforms will be made to the Academic Technology Approval Scheme in the context of MI5’s alert over the China General Technology Research Institute’s links to UK universities.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We have no current plans to reform the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) in connection with this issue. We keep the scheme constantly under review to ensure it remains relevant and appropriately targeted.
ATAS requires certain international students and researchers to obtain clearance before undertaking postgraduate programmes or research in areas that could present proliferation risks to the UK.
Universities remain responsible for due diligence on their international research collaborations, supported by advice on research security from the Research Collaboration Advice Team in the Department for Business Innovation Science and Trade.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has made any requests to interview any diplomats from the People's Republic of China following allegations embassy staff pointed taser and stun guns at protestors on 3rd July 2026.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Metropolitan Police are actively investigating this matter. As the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further or speculate on the outcome. However, the Government is clear that any attempt by a foreign state to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm individuals on UK soil will not be tolerated.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, A) which organisations and individuals were informed which date the Sustainable Farming Incentive would launch, and B) when they were told.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The launch of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 was published on the Defra Farming Blog and on GOV.UK. On 2 June 2026, Defra published a blog update stating that SFI26 Window 1 was expected to open on 30 June 2026 for 2 groups:
The scheme then opened on 30 June 2026, with scheme guidance online. Defra also published the Defra Farming Blog on 29 August 2026 that the second application window was expected to open on 22 September 2026 for all farmers and land managers.
Asked by: Alicia Kearns (Conservative - Rutland and Stamford)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consideration her Department has given to the potential merits of amending the conditions of use of the Veterans Railcard to allow the named adult companion and up to four eligible children to travel without the primary cardholder while retaining their entitlement to the associated rail fare discounts.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the value of the Veterans Railcard in supporting former members of the Armed Forces and their families. Any proposed changes to eligibility or discount arrangements would need to be considered alongside wider ticketing and revenue implications. No such assessment has been conducted by the Department for Transport.