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1580801

registered interest
date	25/01/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Confucius Institutes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential relationship between Confucius Institutes in the UK and the (a) United Front Work Department and (b) Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	132594
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting the UK education sector to engage with China in a way that reflects the UK's values and takes account of national security concerns. Where we have clear evidence of behaviours that threaten our national security, we will of course act accordingly. However, as a matter of long-standing policy we will not comment on intelligence matters.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 03/02/2023 12:49:36 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith

1580802

registered interest
date	25/01/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	China-Britain Business Council
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made for the implication of its policies of the Chinese-British Business Council and its ties to the United Front Work Department and the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	132595
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government is committed to supporting UK businesses and academia to engage with China in a way that reflects the UK's values and takes account of national security concerns. The UK is a world-leading destination for international students and we have robust procedures in place to protect against any undue foreign influence.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan grouped question UIN 132596 question first answered 03/02/2023 12:59:07 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith

1580803

registered interest
date	25/01/2023
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	China-Britain Business Council: Confucius Institutes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made for the implications of its policies of the Chinese-British Business Council’s work with Confucius Institutes and their potential links with the United Front Work Department and the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	132596
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government is committed to supporting UK businesses and academia to engage with China in a way that reflects the UK's values and takes account of national security concerns. The UK is a world-leading destination for international students and we have robust procedures in place to protect against any undue foreign influence.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan grouped question UIN 132595 question first answered 03/02/2023 12:59:07 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith

1580804

registered interest
date	25/01/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Confucius Institutes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential influence of Confucius Institutes on UK universities.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	132597
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2023 answer text <p>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.</p><p>The government is clear that any challenges to our core values, whatever their origin, will not be tolerated. Departmental officials will continue to work closely with their counterparts across government to strengthen protective measures.</p><p>The National Security Bill currently before Parliament brings together vital new measures to protect our national security. The new Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) has now been added to the Bill, which has been created to tackle covert influence in the UK. The scheme is designed to strengthen the integrity of our politics and institutions, and protect the UK from state threats.</p><p>The Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill will ensure that lawful freedom of speech is fully supported in English higher education (HE), regardless of where the challenge comes from. It will require and empower registered HE providers, colleges and students’ unions to push back on freedom of speech related threats from overseas. The Bill will also address concerns about the possible influence of overseas money in English HE. These new measures will help the Office for Students (OfS) understand the possible impact of overseas income on freedom of speech and academic freedom, and monitor any trends and patterns of concern. 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.</p><p>The department continuously strengthens protective measures, and expects universities to do the same. Universities UK, with government support, continues work to increase the understanding and awareness of the threat from interference within the HE sector. A key output of this is the publication of two sets of guidelines and a set of case studies, which can be found at the following links: <a href="https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-research/publications/managing-risks-internationalisation" target="_blank">https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-research/publications/managing-risks-internationalisation</a>, <a href="https://www.ukri.org/publications/managing-risks-in-international-research-and-innovation/" target="_blank">https://www.ukri.org/publications/managing-risks-in-international-research-and-innovation/</a> and: <a href="https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/universities-uk-international/insights-and-publications/uuki-insights/case-studies-how-universities-are" target="_blank">https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/universities-uk-international/insights-and-publications/uuki-insights/case-studies-how-universities-are</a>.</p><p>With regards to Confucius Institutes, like all similar bodies they 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 government encourages any providers with concerns to contact the government.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho grouped question UIN 132276 132278 132279 132598 132604 question first answered 03/02/2023 13:58:28 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith

1564963

registered interest
date	09/01/2023
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Somalia: Army
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the Somalia National Army personnel trained in Somalia by the UK military received training in (a) human rights and (b) gender equality since 2017.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	119186
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2023 answer text <p>Since 2017 gender and human rights training has been delivered to over 2,700 Somali National Army personnel as part of UK Company Collective Training (through Op TANGHAM). Op TANGHAM has also supported training on gender/human rights with the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 12/01/2023 11:32:46 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith

1550657

registered interest
date	12/12/2022
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Myanmar: Armed Conflict
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help reduce the ability of the Myanmar military to carry out airstrikes.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	108344
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2022 answer text <p>We remain very concerned by the horrific tactics used by the Myanmar military, including indiscriminate airstrikes against civilians. The UK frequently raises these issues in international statements, including at the UN Security Council (UNSC) and UN Human Rights Council.</p><p>On 28 February 2022, the UK updated its Overseas Business Risk Guidance to make it clear that UK businesses should conduct thorough supply chain due diligence to ensure that commodities, such as aviation fuel, do not reach the Myanmar military. The UK is also using targeted sanctions against those who provide weapons and parts to the Myanmar Air Force.</p> answering member constituency Berwick-upon-Tweed answering member printed Anne-Marie Trevelyan question first answered 20/12/2022 15:44:51 answering member 4531 label Biography information for Anne-Marie Trevelyan
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith

1550763

registered interest
date	12/12/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Somalia: Military Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Somalia National Army soldiers were trained in the UK in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020 and (d) 2021.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	108345
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/12/2022 answer text <p>One member of the Somali Armed Forces underwent Human Rights training in the UK in 2018. The main focus of our training for the SNA has been in Somalia. Between 2017 and early 2023, we will have trained over 2700 Somali personnel.</p> answering member constituency Wells answering member printed James Heappey question first answered 20/12/2022 17:37:25 answering member 4528 label Biography information for James Heappey
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith

1550764

registered interest
date	12/12/2022
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Somalia: Military Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many Somalia National Army soldiers are due to be trained by UK armed forces in (a) 2022 and (b) 2023.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	108346
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/12/2022 answer text <p>The UK is a major security partner of Somalia, working with international partners to counter al-Shabaab, build capacity of Somali forces and support the transition to Somali-led security. The UK has trained 1,771 Somalis in 2022. We cannot yet give figures for 2023. Protection of human rights is central to our security engagement and interventions, including through engagement with the Somali Government, as well as incorporating human rights language into UN resolutions in our role as penholder and mandating pre-deployment human rights training for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and Somali security forces personnel. The UK also advocates at all levels of Government that military planning for security operations against Al-Shabaab should look to minimise humanitarian impacts and that all security actors should respect International Humanitarian Law which includes the protection of civilians. This approach aligns with the recently published UK humanitarian framework.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell grouped question UIN 108347 108348 question first answered 30/12/2022 13:18:40 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith

1550765

registered interest
date	12/12/2022
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Somalia: al Shabaab
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with his Somalian counterpart on the protection of (a) civilians and (b) human rights during the Somali military offensive against al-Shabaab.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	108347
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/12/2022 answer text <p>The UK is a major security partner of Somalia, working with international partners to counter al-Shabaab, build capacity of Somali forces and support the transition to Somali-led security. The UK has trained 1,771 Somalis in 2022. We cannot yet give figures for 2023. Protection of human rights is central to our security engagement and interventions, including through engagement with the Somali Government, as well as incorporating human rights language into UN resolutions in our role as penholder and mandating pre-deployment human rights training for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and Somali security forces personnel. The UK also advocates at all levels of Government that military planning for security operations against Al-Shabaab should look to minimise humanitarian impacts and that all security actors should respect International Humanitarian Law which includes the protection of civilians. This approach aligns with the recently published UK humanitarian framework.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell grouped question UIN 108346 108348 question first answered 30/12/2022 13:18:40 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith

1550766

registered interest
date	12/12/2022
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Somalia: Military Aid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his department has set out human rights conditions to the Federal Government of Somalia relating to the provision of UK armed forces training to security forces in that country.
tabling member constituency	Stirling
tabling member printed	Alyn Smith
uin	108348
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/12/2022 answer text <p>The UK is a major security partner of Somalia, working with international partners to counter al-Shabaab, build capacity of Somali forces and support the transition to Somali-led security. The UK has trained 1,771 Somalis in 2022. We cannot yet give figures for 2023. Protection of human rights is central to our security engagement and interventions, including through engagement with the Somali Government, as well as incorporating human rights language into UN resolutions in our role as penholder and mandating pre-deployment human rights training for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and Somali security forces personnel. The UK also advocates at all levels of Government that military planning for security operations against Al-Shabaab should look to minimise humanitarian impacts and that all security actors should respect International Humanitarian Law which includes the protection of civilians. This approach aligns with the recently published UK humanitarian framework.</p> answering member constituency Sutton Coldfield answering member printed Mr Andrew Mitchell grouped question UIN 108346 108347 question first answered 30/12/2022 13:18:41 answering member 1211 label Biography information for Mr Andrew Mitchell
tabling member	4738 label Biography information for Alyn Smith