The National Security Bill 2022-23 was introduced in the House of Commons on 11 May 2022. It would replace existing counter-espionage laws with a comprehensive framework for countering hostile state activity analogous to the counter-terrorism framework established since 2000. It would also limit the availability of civil legal aid and damages to those connected with terrorist activity.

The National Security Bill 2022-23 was introduced in the House of Commons on 11 May 2022. It would replace existing counter-espionage laws with a comprehensive framework for countering hostile state activity analogous to the counter-terrorism framework established since 2000. It would also limit the availability of civil legal aid and...

New clause 11 (Requirement to register foreign activity arrangements), discussed with new clauses 12 (Offence of carrying out activities under an unregistered foreign activity arrangement) and 13 (Requirement to register activities of specified persons), agreed to. New clauses 12 and 13 agreed to. New clause 14 (Requirement to register foreign influence arrangements), discussed with new clauses 15 (Meaning of “political influence activity”), 16 (Offence of carrying out political influence activities pursuant to unregistered foreign influence arrangement) and 17 (Requirement to register political influence activities of foreign principals), agreed to. New clauses 15 to 17 agreed to. New clause 18 (General exemptions), discussed with new clauses 19 (Registration information), 20 (Information notices), 21 (Confidential material), 25 (Publication and copying of information) and 28 (Interpretation), agreed to. New clauses 19 to 21 agreed to. New clause 22 (Offence of providing false information), discussed with new clause 23 (Offence of carrying out activities under arrangements tainted by false information), agreed to. New clause 23 agreed to. New clause 24 (Offences: penalties), discussed with new clause 26 (Offences: supplementary provision), agreed to. New clauses 25 and 26 agreed to. New clause 27 (Annual report) agreed to. New clause 28 agreed to. New clause 4 (Proceedings relating to safety or interests of the United Kingdom) debated and withdrawn. New clause 5 (Ministerial conduct) debated and withdrawn. New clause 6 (Defences) debated and withdrawn. New clause 29 (Registration of former employees of foreign security services) debated and withdrawn. New schedule 1 (Disclosure orders), new schedule 2 (Customer information orders) and new schedule 3 (Account monitoring orders) agreed to. Title amended. Bill, as amended, to be reported (Bill 165). Written evidence reported to the House.

New clause 11 (Requirement to register foreign activity arrangements), discussed with new clauses 12 (Offence of carrying out activities under an unregistered foreign activity arrangement) and 13 (Requirement to register activities of specified persons), agreed to. New clauses 12 and 13 agreed to. New clause 14 (Requirement to register foreign...

Clauses 16 to 20 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to, with an amendment. Clause 21 agreed to. Schedule 3 agreed to, with amendments. Clause 22 agreed to.

Clauses 16 to 20 agreed to. Schedule 2 agreed to, with an amendment. Clause 21 agreed to. Schedule 3 agreed to, with amendments. Clause 22 agreed to.

Clauses 7 to 13 agreed to, with clauses 7 and 13 agreed to as amended. Clause 14, discussed with new clause 3 (Reporting on disinformation originating from foreign powers), agreed to. Schedule 1 agreed to, with amendments. Clause 15 agreed to.

Clauses 7 to 13 agreed to, with clauses 7 and 13 agreed to as amended. Clause 14, discussed with new clause 3 (Reporting on disinformation originating from foreign powers), agreed to. Schedule 1 agreed to, with amendments. Clause 15 agreed to.

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

The hostile threat that our country faces comes in many forms, and is ever evolving. We must not only keep pace with such threats, but stay ahead of them to make our country safe, and an even harder...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.

The hostile threat that our country faces comes in many forms, and is ever evolving. We must not only keep pace with such threats, but stay ahead of them to make our country safe, and an even harder...

Will the Home Secretary give way?

Will the Home Secretary give way?

Of course I will.

Of course I will.

I am very grateful. I was waiting for that little phrase—I hoped it might come up. Some of us are very concerned about how state actors from other countries who wish us ill might seek to undermine the democratic process in the House, might seek to infiltrate Parliament, and might...

I am very grateful. I was waiting for that little phrase—I hoped it might come up. Some of us are very concerned about how state actors from other countries who wish us ill might seek to undermine the democratic process in the House, might seek to infiltrate Parliament, and might...

I know from our time together in the Foreign Affairs Committee of not just the hon. Gentleman’s interest in this issue, but the significance of an issue that is growing and growing. I will say more about that later in my speech, but let me say in response to his...

I know from our time together in the Foreign Affairs Committee of not just the hon. Gentleman’s interest in this issue, but the significance of an issue that is growing and growing. I will say more about that later in my speech, but let me say in response to his...

The Parliamentary Security Director is particularly concerned about, for example, the all-party parliamentary groups, which, while obviously great in many respects, are often funded by other countries, some of which do not wish us well, and sometimes that funding comes indirectly. I wonder whether we need to change our practices...

The Parliamentary Security Director is particularly concerned about, for example, the all-party parliamentary groups, which, while obviously great in many respects, are often funded by other countries, some of which do not wish us well, and sometimes that funding comes indirectly. I wonder whether we need to change our practices...

The hon. Gentleman is right to refer to what we, as a House, need to do for our country to preserve our democracy and the function of our political and democratic institutions. All-party parliamentary groups are a well-trodden path when it comes to inquiries and investigations, and various Committees, including...

The hon. Gentleman is right to refer to what we, as a House, need to do for our country to preserve our democracy and the function of our political and democratic institutions. All-party parliamentary groups are a well-trodden path when it comes to inquiries and investigations, and various Committees, including...

I understand that there will be a programme in Northern Ireland tomorrow night that confirms what the Secretary of State referred to—that there are economic crime gangs stretching from Russia right through Europe across to the United Kingdom. Will the Bill address the issue of organised crime gangs that stretch...

I understand that there will be a programme in Northern Ireland tomorrow night that confirms what the Secretary of State referred to—that there are economic crime gangs stretching from Russia right through Europe across to the United Kingdom. Will the Bill address the issue of organised crime gangs that stretch...

I thank my hon. Friend for his incredibly important question. The Bill will cover aspects of hostile state activity, and he will hear the details of that as I make progress with my remarks. Much of the work on organised crime and criminality in the United Kingdom is led by...

I thank my hon. Friend for his incredibly important question. The Bill will cover aspects of hostile state activity, and he will hear the details of that as I make progress with my remarks. Much of the work on organised crime and criminality in the United Kingdom is led by...

I do not think that anybody would question the Home Secretary’s commitment to the safety that she is trying to engender for the British public, but I draw her attention to the comments of Andy Hall QC—her adviser on counter-terrorism—who raised concerns about some of the thresholds with respect to...

I do not think that anybody would question the Home Secretary’s commitment to the safety that she is trying to engender for the British public, but I draw her attention to the comments of Andy Hall QC—her adviser on counter-terrorism—who raised concerns about some of the thresholds with respect to...

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is why the Bill has been constructed in a sensitive manner with our agencies and partners, based on expertise and insight. This is about how the laws will be applied to individuals in specific cases, so the sensitivities must always be considered....

My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is why the Bill has been constructed in a sensitive manner with our agencies and partners, based on expertise and insight. This is about how the laws will be applied to individuals in specific cases, so the sensitivities must always be considered....

May I also pay tribute to the agencies? When I saw all those people on the Mall, I thought, “My goodness, if something had gone wrong, imagine what that would have looked like.” It was an extraordinary effort, and the Secretary of State is right to pay tribute to them....

May I also pay tribute to the agencies? When I saw all those people on the Mall, I thought, “My goodness, if something had gone wrong, imagine what that would have looked like.” It was an extraordinary effort, and the Secretary of State is right to pay tribute to them....

The hon. Lady is right that the protection of whistleblowers is vital. I will be frank: we need to find the right measures and means to do that. She has highlighted the current debates and thoughts on the issue. We need to find the right balance. Whistleblowers play an integral...

The hon. Lady is right that the protection of whistleblowers is vital. I will be frank: we need to find the right measures and means to do that. She has highlighted the current debates and thoughts on the issue. We need to find the right balance. Whistleblowers play an integral...