Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential role of Confucius Institutes in projecting Chine Communist Party influence in the UK and abroad.

It is crucial that any international partnerships entered into by UK universities, including with Confucius Institutes, are managed appropriately with the right due diligence in place. This government takes seriously any concerns regarding the operation of international organisations at UK education providers. If any institution feels it is coming under pressure to compromise its core values, we encourage them to inform government.