Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they assess that the threat to freedom and democracy in the UK posed by the government of China is increasing; if so, whether they believe that Confucius Institutes are part of such a threat; and if not, why they have said that they want to reduce influence of Confucius Institutes.

The government will continue to underline the importance that the UK places on defending human rights, and of speaking out and taking action where there are concerns. We need to evolve our approach to China into one of robust pragmatism, which is recognised and understood by our allies and partners. As my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, has previously said, China poses the greatest long-term security challenge to the UK economy and more widely, because of the behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party. The government is committed to doing more to adapt to its growing impact and we are constantly monitoring our position.

The government continuously assesses threats posed to the UK. As a matter of longstanding policy we are unable to release information regarding threat assessments on the grounds of National Security.

The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will require and empower registered higher education (HE) providers in England to push back on freedom of speech related threats from overseas. It will also require the Office for Students (OfS) to monitor the overseas funding of registered HE providers and their constituent institutions, in order to assess the extent to which it presents a risk to freedom of speech and academic freedom in HE. This includes the reporting of educational or commercial partnerships, and therefore includes arrangements with Confucius Institutes. The Bill will allow the OfS to take appropriate action, including issuing penalties, if there is evidence that an HE provider has breached its freedom of speech duties.

Like all similar bodies, Confucius Institutes should operate transparently and with a full commitment to our values of openness and freedom of expression. Universities have a responsibility to ensure that any partnership with a Confucius Institute is managed appropriately, and the right due diligence is in place. The department would encourage any providers with concerns to contact the government.