Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme public register, how many registrations have been made since the introduction of the scheme which have not be publicly published; and for what reason there are no political influence registrations relating to countries on the enhanced tier.

As of the 5^th of March, there are 11 registrations on the FIRS public register. We will not provide details of registrations beyond that which is on the public register as to do so could identify information not intended to be published and undermine the scheme’s objectives.

Registrations under the enhanced tier will not be published, unless they relate to political influence activities. There are additionally circumstances where exceptions to publication may apply, for example where publication could create a risk to the safety or interests of the UK or to an individual or entity’s safety.

The Government will be publishing an annual report setting out, among other things, the number of registrations across both tiers, number of information notices issued, the number of persons charged with an offence and the number of persons convicted of an offence. The first report will be published as soon as practicable after 30 June 2026.

FIRS is a new scheme, and a published impact assessment sets out expected numbers of registrations in the first year (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-security-bill-overarching-documents/impact-assessment-foreign-influence-registration-scheme-accessible)

Where there is evidence of a criminal offence having been committed, including failure to register with FIRS, the Government will refer the matter to the police.