Question
Every Member of this House should be concerned about this affront to democracy, because the threat from China is incredibly well documented. Current and former heads of the security services have talked prominently about the threat from China and foreign Governments. We have industrial espionage and Chinese activity aimed at infiltrating our energy systems. We could not be clearer-eyed than we are, so what more has to happen before the Government put China on the enhanced tier of FIRS? Week after week, we get reports of industrial espionage, hacking and threats to democracy. What has to happen before the Government finally acknowledge that China should be on the enhanced tier?
Answer
I accept the important point about the nature of the threat that we face internationally, and specifically from China; I have just referenced that. FIRS is an important operational tool. As I said to the shadow Minister, we will publish the annual report as soon as we are able to. The hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Bradley Thomas) will understand that it would not be appropriate for me to speculate about future registrations made using that operational tool. That is not how this has worked previously, and it is not how it will work today.
Verdict: RED (22/100)
The reply acknowledges the threat from China but does not say what developments or evidence would lead to China being placed on the enhanced tier. It also declines to say whether China should be placed there, citing the inappropriateness of speculating about future registrations, and gives no view on China specifically. Both parts of the question are answered only in vague, hedged terms, so the person who asked would likely need to ask again for specific criteria and a clear position.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What further developments or evidence would need to occur before the Government places China on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS)? | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply never states what developments or evidence would trigger enhanced-tier placement for China. It only acknowledges the threat, promises an annual report when possible, and declines to speculate about future registrations, which is related but does not name any criteria or conditions. |
| What is the Government's position on whether China should be placed on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS)? | Addressed | Hedged | The reply gives no direct position on whether China should be placed on the enhanced tier. It does decline to speculate about future registrations with a stated reason (that it would not be appropriate), which answers the 'will you do X' form of the question, though only weakly and without stating a view on China specifically. |