Oral Answers to Questions

Dan Jarvis Excerpts

Monday 17th November 2025 Commons Chamber

[Alison Griffiths (Bognor Regis and Littlehampton) (Con)]

13. Whether her Department provided evidence relating to the alleged breach of the Official Secrets Act on behalf of China.

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

As set out on multiple occasions in this House, no Ministers and no special advisers played any role in the provision of evidence. The Director of Public Prosecutions has confirmed that publicly.

[Alison Griffiths]

Our judicial system is rightly rigorous and independent, which is why the Government’s handling of intelligence that is central to national security, and passing it to prosecutors, matters so much. As the Minister responsible for our state threats framework and domestic security, will the Home Secretary tell the House when she was first alerted to concerns that crucial evidence had not been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service? Does she agree that the public deserve a full and frank account of how two alleged Chinese spies were able to walk free?

[Dan Jarvis]

This was an independent decision by the CPS, and we have repeatedly made clear that there was no political interference in the evidence provided. This Government are extremely disappointed with the outcome of this case, and remain concerned about the espionage threat posed to the UK. We are working relentlessly to counter it.

[Yuan Yang (Earley and Woodley) (Lab)]

14. Whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential impact of exempting British national overseas visa holders from the proposed extension of the settlement qualifying period on levels of net migration.

--- Later in debate ---

[Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington) (Lab)]

T3. The data centre in Cambois in my constituency has a £10 billion investment. Together with subsea interconnectors, for example, it looks as if my constituency is a plug-in centre for critical national infrastructure. With that in mind, can the Minister give me some advice on whether terrorism is being looked at as a serious issue because of the investment and what is happening in Cambois and patches such as mine?

[The Minister for Security (Dan Jarvis)]

My hon. Friend raises an important point. The assessment of the terrorist threat to the UK is made independently by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre. Government partners, including JTAC, the National Protective Security Authority and counter-terrorism police, work closely with industry to ensure that the latest threat picture is appropriately responded to by owners of CNI. I am happy to discuss that further with him.

[Mr Speaker]

I call the shadow Home Secretary.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Alex Barros-Curtis (Cardiff West) (Lab)]

T8. What steps is the Home Secretary taking to counter the rise of extremist narratives, whether domestic or foreign-backed, that seek to undermine our democratic processes?

[Dan Jarvis]

Everyone deserves to feel safe and to be able fully to participate in public and political life, free from the threat of violence or exclusion driven by hateful prejudice. We will persist in our efforts to challenge extremist narratives, disrupt the activity of radicalising groups and directly tackle the causes of radicalisation. Alongside our work to tackle extremism, the defending democracy taskforce is driving forward a whole-of-Government response to the full range of threats we face to our democracy.

[Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)]

T2. I have been contacted by constituents concerned that a group calling itself Justice for Innocent Men in Scotland is allegedly harassing victims of sexual violence by undermining their anonymity. Will the Minister tell me what the UK Government are going to do to protect women across the UK from that sort of targeting and harassment?

[Phil Brickell (Bolton West) (Lab)]

T9.   The Home Secretary will be aware of the existing asset recovery incentivisation scheme, which uses seized criminal assets to fund enforcement agencies in their work to tackle economic crime. There are, however, concerns about the lumpy nature of the funding model, which can lead to wild variations in financial support year on year for the likes of the Crown Prosecution Service, local police forces and the Serious Fraud Office. Will the Minister therefore meet me to discuss the merits of introducing a ringfenced, multi-year funding pot for law enforcement agencies tackling economic crime?

[Dan Jarvis]

The Department is committed to reinvesting criminal proceeds into asset recovery and tackling related economic crime. In 2024-25, £174 million supported law enforcement, including through the ARIS top slice, a multi-year fund that is ringfenced for core and innovative capabilities. We are reviewing ARIS with stakeholders to improve stability and effectiveness. I know that my hon. Friend is engaging with the noble Lord Hanson of Flint, but I would be very happy to discuss this matter with him further.

[Clive Jones (Wokingham) (LD)]

T4.   In Wokingham, many businesses have created their own text warning system to notify each other when known shoplifters are about in the town. Their priority should not be preventing crime; it should be selling their products. Will the Government commit to reversing Conservative cuts to police officer numbers by increasing the number of police officers on the beat, in order to tackle crime, ease residents’ concerns and protect high street businesses?