Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle state threats to (a) national and (b) economic security.

As set out in the Integrated Review and Refresh, the Government is committed to strengthening the UK's defences against state threats. The Home Office has an important role in the cross-government response. Through the National Security Act 2023, we have brought together vital new measures to protect our national security, which will enable our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to deter, detect and disrupt the full range of modern-day state threats.

I also lead the Defending Democracy Taskforce, which seeks to protect the democratic integrity of the UK from threats of foreign interference.

The Home Office also plays an active role in all aspects of protecting the UK’s economic security, including contributing to relevant National Security and Investment Act work which gives the government powers to scrutinise and intervene in business transactions, to protect national security, while providing businesses and investors with the certainty and transparency they need to do business in the UK.