Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the partnership between the University of Cambridge and a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned military technology company which has sold the CH-4 drone to the Myanmar military junta.

The Government is clear that universities must operate within the law, and is committed to supporting UK research institutions to engage with Chinese companies in a way that reflects the UK’s values and takes account of national security concerns.  As part of our proactive engagement with academia, the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology provides the Research Collaboration Advice Team (RCAT) to give advice to all universities, including the University of Cambridge, on national security risks in international collaborations. RCAT promotes greater understanding about the UK’s security policies and regulations, and has provided tailored advice on many complex issues which have resulted in targeted mitigations of national security concerns.