Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of levels of foreign operations targeting domestic academic institutions.

It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK against foreign interference. The National Security Act 2023 provides the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to deter, detect, and disrupt modern-day state threats.

Any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK or to coerce universities to limit free speech and academic freedoms, will not be tolerated.

As a matter of longstanding policy, we do not comment on operational matters, including specific threat assessments, investigations or activity relating to individual organisations.