Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament report entitled China, published on 13 July 2023, what recent steps his Department has taken to mitigate the potential risks highlighted in that report associated with UK-China investment initiatives.

As highlighted in the government’s response to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament’s report on China, the government will not hesitate to use our powers to protect national security where we identify concerns.

The government continues to provide guidance to businesses to protect investments, including the National Protective Security Authority’s ‘Secure Innovation Campaign’.

The government has powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to scrutinise and, where necessary, intervene in acquisitions of control over entities and assets in or linked to the UK that may pose national security risks. Of the 15 final orders issued during the 2022-2023 financial year, eight involved acquirers associated with China. The government carefully monitors the effect of this system in mitigating risks. This includes seeking frequent feedback, such as through the recent Call for Evidence launched on 13 November 2023.

The steps the government has taken related to the China report recommendations can be found in the Government Response to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament Report ‘China’: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-to-the-isc-china-report