Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Dan Jarvis and Mark Sewards

Monday 24th February 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mark Sewards (Leeds South West and Morley) (Lab)]

16. What steps her Department is taking to counter hostile state threats.

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

The Home Office works closely with other Departments and operational agencies to strengthen the UK’s defences against state threats. That includes continuing to implement measures in the National Security Act 2023, which will make the UK a harder target for states that seek to commit hostile acts.

[Mark Sewards]

Hostile states are using unknowing security officials here in the UK to undermine our national security and conceal their activities, and the director general of MI5 has said that Russia and Iran are increasingly using this tactic. I welcome the Home Office guidance that allows security organisations to carry out effective due diligence, but what else is the Department doing, with the security industry, to ensure that our country is protected from these hostile state threats?