Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Education (b) the higher education sector on (i) academic integrity (ii) the influence of Chinese state-owned enterprises and (iii) the influence of the Chinese Government in the sector.

Since his recent appointment, the Foreign Secretary has not met with the Secretary of State for Education or with the higher education sector to discuss these issues. The Government is committed to supporting UK businesses and academia to engage with China in a way that reflects the UK's values and takes account of national security concerns. The UK is a world-leading destination for international students and we have robust procedures in place to protect against any undue foreign influence. FCDO officials will continue to work closely with their Department for Education counterparts regarding the issues you raised.