Government responds to Jo Johnson’s report warning of the influence of the Chinese Communist Party on UK Universities and claims it has “taken robust measures to ensure that the university sector is protected from miss-appropriation of research”

Mar 31, 2021 | Parliament

Lord Callanan, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL14365):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion in the report by King’s College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that “the UK’s dependence on a neototalitarian technology power for the financial health and research output of its universities is now regarded as a particular point of vulnerability”. (HL14365)

Tabled on: 18 March 2021

Answer:
Lord Callanan

Universities are well aware of the possible risks associated with dependence on a single source of funding, whether that is from a single organisation or from a single nation. A diverse recruitment base is key to avoiding this. The Government’s International Education Strategy and recent update make clear that the internationalisation of our higher education sector cannot come at any cost – universities must ensure they have appropriate processes in place to manage risk. Government has recently issued guidance to the Office for Students, requesting they monitor the financial sustainability of institutions and continue to support the sector to recruit sustainably.

Date and time of answer: 31 Mar 2021 at 16:26.

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Lord Callanan, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL14364):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusions in the report by King’s College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that (1) China is projected to become the UK’s most significant research partner, and (2) collaborations with China account for more than 20 per cent of the UK’s high-impact research in 20 subject areas. (HL14364)

Tabled on: 18 March 2021

Answer:
Lord Callanan

Her Majesty’s Government recognises the enormous benefits from collaborating on scientific research with China. We cannot address global challenges, such as climate change, without their support and engagement. We will continue to support research collaboration with China where it is clearly in the national interest to do so.

Date and time of answer: 31 Mar 2021 at 16:25.

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Lord Callanan, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL14362):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion in the report by King’s College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that an increase in funding from China and collaboration with Chinese researchers over the last two decades risks the autonomy of UK universities. (HL14362)

Tabled on: 18 March 2021

Answer
Lord Callanan:

Her Majesty’s Government carefully considers advice and analysis from a range of sources, including universities and think tanks, and is grateful for the scholarship which my Noble Friend the Rt. Hon. the Lord Johnson of Marylebone has provided in this report. We will continue to support the sector to make informed decisions when engaging in international research and other collaboration.

Universities are well-aware of the possible risks associated with dependence on a single source of funding, whether that is from a single organisation or from a single nation. A diverse recruitment base is key to avoiding this. The Government’s International Education Strategy and recent update make clear that the internationalisation of our higher education sector cannot come at any cost – universities must ensure they have appropriate processes in place to manage risk.

Date and time of answer: 31 Mar 2021 at 16:24.

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Lord Callanan, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL14361):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion in the report by King’s College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that the UK has “poorly understood” risks of increasing collaboration between UK universities and China. (HL14361)

Tabled on: 18 March 2021

Answer:
Lord Callanan

International collaborations are central to our position as a science superpower and create wealth and jobs within the UK. We cooperate closely with universities, funding bodies and industry in protecting our higher education and research sector from interference. This includes publishing “Trusted Research” and commissioning Universities UK to release comprehensive guidelines to encourage secure partnerships and promote our values. We are pleased to see the university sector addressing these challenges and we will continue to work with the sector on implementing the guidelines, promoting best practice, and responding to specific enquiries. We also share experience and best practice with our friends and allies overseas.

Date and time of answer: 31 Mar 2021 at 16:23.

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Lord Callanan, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL14360):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what risk assessment they have conducted of students from China undertaking research in universities which are carrying out research connected with (1) critical infrastructure, and (2) national security, particularly in relation to (a) cyber technology, (b) artificial intelligence, (c) nuclear capability, (d) automation, (e) telecommunications and material sciences, and (f) weapons development; and what conclusions they have drawn. (HL14360)

Tabled on: 18 March 2021

Answer:
Lord Callanan

Her Majesty’s Government welcomes all international students to UK universities, including those from China. We have taken robust measures to ensure that the university sector is protected from miss-appropriation of research relating to the areas listed. Measures include the Academic Technology Approval Scheme, which vets postgraduate students seeking to study proliferation sensitive courses, and outreach activity through the “Trusted Research” campaign. We continuously review measures that protect national security to ensure they remain effective.

Date and time of answer: 31 Mar 2021 at 16:22.

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Lord Callanan, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL14363):

Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the conclusion in the report by King’s College London and the Harvard Kennedy School The China question: managing risks and maximising benefits from partnership in higher education and research, published on 9 March, that the UK “urgently needs to put in place a robust framework for engaging China in research and higher education”. (HL14363)

Tabled on: 18 March 2021

Answer:
Lord Callanan

Her Majesty’s Government supports the sector to make informed decisions on international research collaboration and cooperates closely with universities, funding bodies and industry in protecting our higher education and research sector from interference. This is backed by a robust legal and regulatory framework including on exports, intellectual property and academic freedom and freedom of speech. We have strengthened protective measures and keep them under review. Trusted Research and the security guidelines commissioned by the Government and released by Universities UK are an important step to encourage secure partnerships and promote our values. We are pleased to see the university sector addressing these challenges and we will continue to work with the sector on implementing guidelines recommendations.

Date and time of answer: 31 Mar 2021 at 16:21.

Lord David Alton

For 18 years David Alton was a Member of the House of Commons and today he is an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK House of Lords.

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