China Espionage: Government Security Response Debate

Full Debate: Read Full Debate
Department: Cabinet Office

China Espionage: Government Security Response

Alison Griffiths Excerpts
Tuesday 18th November 2025

(1 day, 12 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Watch Debate Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Dan Jarvis Portrait Dan Jarvis
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

This is a strong package of measures we have announced today, but I have also been crystal clear about our determination to act further where necessary. That is the right approach. It will mean we are best able to guard our national security, while at the same time engaging with China on other areas of policy, including illegal migration.

Alison Griffiths Portrait Alison Griffiths (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) (Con)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

The Minister stresses the importance of mindset, so can he tell me whether it was a failure of mindset that underpinned the failure to secure the prosecution of two alleged Chinese agents? Why should parliamentarians now trust that he has the mindset to keep us safe?

Dan Jarvis Portrait Dan Jarvis
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

As I said in the House yesterday, and as I hope the hon. Lady and other Members will understand, those decisions were not taken by the Government; they were taken independently by the Crown Prosecution Service, which is rightly independent of Government. The Government have today brought forward a strong package of measures, and I hope that she and her colleagues will support them.