Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 1 September (HL2328) and 21 September 2021 (HL2472) and her remarks on 2 February (HL Deb col 998), what discussions they have held with the government of the United States about its reasons for banning Hikvision; and why they have not taken similar steps with regard to banning Hikvision.

I have met with the Biometrics and Surveillance Camera Commissioner on 13 October last year and discussed the issues raised in the correspondence with Hikvision.

The Government is committed to supporting UK businesses to engage with China in a way that reflects the UK’s values and takes account of national security concerns. We have published guidance to help cutting-edge UK firms negotiate the ethical, legal and commercial questions they may encounter in China or when working with Chinese businesses, supporting safe and appropriate UK-China collaboration in the digital and technology space. The guidance provides firms with clear, up-to-date information and specialist support which reflect the UK’s values and take account of national security concerns. Our Overseas Business Risk guidance also makes clear to UK businesses operating in China the need to consider the risk of exposure to entities that may be providing or developing surveillance technologies. We continue to keep our policy position under review, working closely with our international partners.