Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK Government statement on denial of UK MP to enter Hong Kong, published on 14 April 2025, if his Department will publish the minutes from the meeting between the Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security and Hong Kong's Chief Secretary for Administration as they relate to the decision to deny Wera Hobhouse MP entry to Hong Kong.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

In line with the practice of successive administrations, detailed minutes of ministerial meetings - even those that are declared publicly - are not normally disclosed.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, if his Department will publish the minutes from meetings between the Minister of Trade and the Chief of Defence Staff and their Chinese interlocutors on the week commencing 7 April 2025.

Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

In line with the practice of successive administrations, detailed minutes of ministerial meetings - even those that are declared publicly - are not normally disclosed.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring universities to conduct human rights due diligence checks when offering security-related courses to organisations based in countries listed as a human rights priority in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's report entitled Human Rights and Democracy Report 2022, published on 13 July 2023.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world, and we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. Universities attract international engagement from across the world, and this global reach plays an important part in promoting British values, such as the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and therefore responsible for their own policies and procedures.

However, English HE providers must uphold applicable public interest governance principles, including on free speech, and we expect the sector to be alert to regulatory risks when collaborating with international partners, conducting appropriate due diligence to comply with all legislation, including the Human Rights Act 1998. The Office for Students (OfS) have introduced a further registration condition on harassment and sexual misconduct, which will come into force on 1 August 2025. This condition is important in ensuring HE students are free from harassment and sexual misconduct that would otherwise adversely affect their ability to benefit from their studies.

As the independent regulator, it is the role of the OfS to monitor and assess registered providers’ compliance with all its conditions of registration.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department is developing plans to require universities to develop institution-wide human rights policies and procedures.

Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)

The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world, and we remain committed to the promotion of universal human rights. Universities attract international engagement from across the world, and this global reach plays an important part in promoting British values, such as the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Higher education (HE) providers are autonomous bodies, independent from government, and therefore responsible for their own policies and procedures.

However, English HE providers must uphold applicable public interest governance principles, including on free speech, and we expect the sector to be alert to regulatory risks when collaborating with international partners, conducting appropriate due diligence to comply with all legislation, including the Human Rights Act 1998. The Office for Students (OfS) have introduced a further registration condition on harassment and sexual misconduct, which will come into force on 1 August 2025. This condition is important in ensuring HE students are free from harassment and sexual misconduct that would otherwise adversely affect their ability to benefit from their studies.

As the independent regulator, it is the role of the OfS to monitor and assess registered providers’ compliance with all its conditions of registration.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of placing China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

No decision has been made in relation to specifying China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. As the Security Minister confirmed in Parliament on 1 April, countries are considered separately, and decisions are made based on a robust evidence base. It would not be appropriate to speculate on which countries may or may not be specified in the future, but any changes will be announced in Parliament in the usual way.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans his Department is considering to attract high quality research teams from United States' universities.

Answered by Feryal Clark - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We recognise and value the US as a key partner in R&D and look forward to continuing our collaboration on shared priorities to drive economic growth and technological advancement. Both the UK and US are committed to facilitating the exchange of talent and students to enhance R&D capabilities.

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 potential implications of the US Government's policies on deportation flights to El Salvador for his Department's advice to UK travellers to the US.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

US immigration is a matter for the US Government, in accordance with international law. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office keeps our travel advice under regular review to ensure it provides accurate information to British nationals.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has sought advice from the Intelligence Agencies on the potential threat to the integrity of UK democracy from (a) Russia, (b) Iran, (c) China and (d) other hostile states.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

It is the longstanding policy of successive UK Governments that we do not comment on operational intelligence or security matters. The UK Government is committed to defending the integrity of the UK's democracy from all state threats, including through the Defending Democracy Taskforce (DDTF). This cross-government Taskforce brings together Ministers, along with representatives from the intelligence community and law enforcement, to coordinate the Government's work to protect our democracy and call out threats, including from Russia, China, and Iran; as the Minister whose portfolio includes national security, I represent the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) at the Taskforce. For example, in December 2023 and March 2024, the Government publicly attributed and sanctioned groups affiliated with Russia and China respectively for interfering in the UK's democracy. The FCDO will continue to work with the DDTF and with the intelligence community to protect the UK's democratic integrity.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of US Government policy on universities on British students studying in the US.

Answered by Stephen Doughty - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

US domestic policy is a matter for the US Government. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides travel advice to inform British nationals so they can make decisions about travelling abroad. We constantly review our travel advice for each country or territory to ensure it includes up-to-date information and advice on the most relevant issues for British people visiting or living there. We stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals abroad 24/7.

Blockade of aid to Gaza

Injury on Duty Award Scheme

Universities and international students

Court transcript costs

Electoral reform

UK-EU Summit

Congratulating Prime Minister Mark Carney

Sanctioning of UK Parliamentarians by Russia

The Bereavement Journey programme