With permission Madam Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.
The Foreign Influence Registration Scheme – or FIRS – is a fundamental component of the National Security Act, which this House passed in 2023.
The act was a response to the evolving threat of hostile activity from states targeting the UK.
Parts 1 to 3 of the act came into force in December 2023 and have been transformative for our operational partners, with 6 charges already brought against those conducting activity for, or on behalf of, foreign states acting within the UK.
A further 5 individuals involved in these cases have been charged with other offences.
FIRS provides crucial additional powers to protect our democracy, economy and society. It does 3 things:
First, transparency – FIRS provides transparency of foreign state influence in the UK.
Second, disruption – FIRS gives the police and MI5 a critical new disruptive tool, with criminal offences for those who fail to comply with the scheme.
Third, deterrence – FIRS will deter those who seek to harm the UK. They will face a choice – either tell the government about their actions, or face arrest and imprisonment.
Given the benefits of the scheme, I can tell the House today that FIRS will go live on the 1 July.
Political tier
The political influence tier of the scheme, which applies to all states, will allow the UK to be better informed about the nature, scale and extent of foreign influence in the UK’s political system. It will strengthen our resilience against covert foreign influence.
The political tier requires the registration of arrangements to carry out political influence activities in the UK at the direction of any foreign power.
Registrations under this tier will, in most cases, be made available on a public register.
For the first time, members of this House, will now be able to check if anyone seeking to influence them, is doing so at the direction of a foreign power.
A move which I am sure will be welcomed right across this House.
Enhanced tier
The enhanced tier of the scheme has been specifically designed to shed light on activities directed by those foreign powers or entities whose activities pose a threat to the safety and interests of the UK.
It enables the government to specify those foreign powers who pose the greatest threat to our society to ensure transparency of a much broader range of activities than just the political tier.
It will provide an important tool for the detection and disruption of harmful activity against our country.
Last month, I set out our intention to specify Iran under this tier of the scheme.
And I can announce today that we will also specify Russia under the scheme.
Russia presents an acute threat to UK national security. In recent years, its hostile acts have ranged from the use of a deadly nerve agent in Salisbury, espionage, arson and cyber-attacks, including the targeting of UK parliamentarians through spear-phishing campaigns.
And clearly Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has highlighted its intent to undermine European and global security.
To ensure we are responding to the whole of state threat Russia poses, the government intends to specify the head of the state of Russia, their government, agencies and authorities – which will include their armed forces, intelligence services and police forces, parliaments and their judiciaries.
We also intend to specify several political parties which are controlled by Russia, including the United Russia Party.
What this means is that any person – either an individual or an entity such as a company – that is carrying out activity as part of any arrangement with those Russian entities will have to register with FIRS.
Should any of these foreign power-controlled entities – such as political parties – carry out activity in the UK directly, they would also have to register with FIRS.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I hope it will be clear what a powerful tool this is.
Implementing the scheme
Turning to implementation. It is clear that FIRS has the potential to provide greater protection for our security, our democracy and our economy, but we must get implementation right.
In support of the scheme, the government has today laid draft regulations specifying Russia and Iran, introducing new exemptions from the scheme and making provision for the publication of information.
Both this House and the other place will have the opportunity to consider and debate these regulations, under the affirmative procedure. The government has also laid a further set of regulations in relation to the collection and disclosure of information under the scheme.
To support the consideration of the regulations and to assist potential registrants and others to better understand their responsibilities under the scheme, the government has published comprehensive guidance online.
By bringing the scheme into force on the 1 July, the government will be giving sectors 3 months’ notice to help them prepare for the scheme. During that time, the government will work closely with the relevant sectors – including academia and business to ensure they understand their obligations. Taken together, this package will ensure that there is strong compliance with the scheme from day one.
There will also be a 3-month grace period to register existing arrangements.
I know that right honourable and honourable members on both sides of the chamber recognise the challenges posed to the UK by foreign interference.
I hope that all members can support these further steps to keep our country safe.
Of course, as with all national security issues we must stay agile. As I have said, FIRS will be kept under review and any new announcements will be made to the House in the usual away.
Madam Deputy Speaker, it is our duty to defend the safety and interests of the UK.
That is why we are commencing FIRS.
That is why we are introducing greater protections for our democracy.
And that is why we are clamping down on the threat from states that conduct hostile activities in and against the UK.
I commend this statement to the House.
