Question
The targeted harvesting of phone and financial records appears to be part of a co-ordinated campaign of transnational repression against critics of Beijing. Given this escalatory behaviour, will the Minister review the powers available to our intelligence services to disrupt the commercial proxies, and state plainly what consequences the People’s Republic of China will face for executing operations against sitting British parliamentarians, bearing in mind that the website of the all-party parliamentary group for international freedom of religion or belief, which I chair, was hacked, and articles were replaced with pro-China propaganda? Quite clearly, that is something that we would never have agreed to.
Answer
The hon. Gentleman makes a very important point. It is worth reiterating that the activity that we are debating is alleged to have occurred between 2018 and 2023. The Government are clear-eyed about the nature of the threat that we face from China and a range of other adversaries when it comes to defending our national security. I pay tribute to the extraordinary men and women who serve in our intelligence services. I am proud that this Government are investing record amounts in supporting the incredible work that they do. We owe them a debt of gratitude; they are heroes of our nation.71% vibes
Verdict: RED (8/100)
The reply did not answer either part of the question. On the intelligence services' powers to disrupt commercial proxies, it offered only a general acknowledgement that the issue matters, remarks about the China threat, and thanks to staff. On the consequences for China, it confirmed the period of alleged activity (2018 to 2023) but gave no sanctions, responses or other action. The person who asked would most likely need to submit a follow-up.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister review the powers available to the intelligence services to disrupt the commercial proxies allegedly used in the targeted harvesting of phone and financial records? | Not Addressed | Generic | No statement addresses the intelligence services' powers to disrupt commercial proxies. The reply offers only an acknowledgement that the point is important, a general claim about the China threat, and tributes to intelligence staff. |
| What consequences will the People's Republic of China face for operations against sitting British parliamentarians? | Not Addressed | Generic | The reply states only that the alleged activity falls between 2018 and 2023 and that the Government is clear-eyed about the threat from China. It names no consequences, sanctions, or responses for the PRC, so the forward-looking question goes unanswered. |