Dan Jarvis MP: speeches 2025

Speeches

• 15 Sept 2025 · Official Secrets Act · Hansard source

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  I am grateful to the hon. Member for his remarks, but I hope that he would acknowledge that the incidents he described, about which he rightly has concerns, were condemned by the UK Government at the time. The UK Government have been clear about the fact that we will not tolerate transnational repression on those living in the UK. FIRS falls out of the National Security Act, and he knows that we have already announced that two nations will be included on the enhanced tier. Any further decision about other nations being included will be made in due course.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Official Secrets Act · Hansard source

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  The takeaway is that the CPS made an independent decision this morning, and that this Government will do everything we can to keep the country safe. That is the takeaway.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Official Secrets Act · Hansard source

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  I am grateful to the hon. Member, as I aways am, for the very sensible and reasonable way in which she has made her comments. She raises a number of important observations, many of which I agree with. I do have to say to her what I said to the shadow Home Secretary, which is that it would be completely inappropriate for me to speculate about the reasons why the CPS sought to make this decision. I completely understand why right hon. and hon. Members would ask me about it, but I hope they also understand that I am not able to talk about why the CPS has decided to make this decision. That is very much a matter for it, not for the Government. On the other points the hon. Member raised, let me give her an assurance that the Government do everything we possibly can to ensure that the UK is a hard target to guard against those malign forces, wherever they may come from, that seek to infiltrate or interfere with our democratic processes. We will ensure that our security and intelligence services and agencies and law enforcement have the necessary tools and resources they need to do the difficult job of guarding against the threats we face. Obviously, as she understands very well, there is also a legislative framework for that, and that is why, I understand, she asked the question about Jonathan Hall KC and the recommendations that she has made recently. As she knows, we have made an absolute commitment that we will legislate as soon as we can, and I give her an assurance that that work continues at pace.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Official Secrets Act · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend raises an important point about our allies. Many of the threats and challenges we face are shared ones, which is precisely why the UK Government convened the five countries ministerial conference last week. We were proud to host our allies from the Five Eyes nations, with which we work very closely, along with other important international co-operation arrangements. We do work very closely with our allies to ensure that, collaboratively and collectively, we are best able to guard against the threat we face. I can give my hon. Friend an assurance that we will seek to ensure that the new guidance is in place as soon possible. I also point to the fact that I wrote to all Members of this House just before the recess with advice on protective security and other matters. However, should any Member feel that they need additional support, we will work very closely with you, Mr Speaker, and the Parliamentary Security Department to ensure that they get it.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Official Secrets Act · Hansard source

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  I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who raises an important point. I can give him and his constituents the assurances he seeks. The Government take these threats incredibly seriously and we will do everything we need to do to keep the public safe. On behalf of the Prime Minister, I chair the Defending Democracy taskforce. The Prime Minister recently renewed the mandate of that cross-departmental mechanism, which ensures that we are able to provide a whole-of-Government approach to the threats we face. The Government take these matters incredibly seriously. These are not party political issues. I have always believed that these are matters that should be a shared endeavour. I will want to work with him and Members right across the House to ensure that, collectively, we keep ourselves safe.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Official Secrets Act · Hansard source

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  I accept the charge the hon. Gentleman makes against me that it is my responsibility to defend our national security, and I hope he understands that that is something I take incredibly seriously. The decision was communicated this morning. This was an independent decision, but I give him and others an assurance that we will, of course, look incredibly closely at it.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Official Secrets Act · Hansard source

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  If I may say so, that is a very clever question from the Chair of the Home Affairs Committee. I hope that the right hon. Lady will understand that, given that the decision was communicated this morning, the Department and the Government will be looking at it very closely. I am confident that the new National Security Act gives the Government—I genuinely pay tribute to the previous Government for their work in introducing that groundbreaking legislation—the tools we need, but I know she will understand that we will look very closely at the decision communicated this morning and satisfy ourselves that we have all the necessary powers and tools to guard against the nature of the threat we face.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Official Secrets Act · Hansard source

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  Let me seek to address the shadow Home Secretary’s points. He raised the question of whether China constitutes a threat or not. I think I was very clear in the language that I used. As the right hon. Gentleman will know, and as the Government set out in the strategic defence review, China presents a “sophisticated and persistent challenge”. The reality is that, in government, there is an absolute requirement to co-operate with nations all around the world. When there are areas in which we need to challenge China, of course we will do so. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman and other Opposition Members will completely understand that when there are areas, in terms of economic co-operation, in which we need to work closely with China, of course we will do so, because it is absolutely in our national interest. I referenced the comments of the previous Foreign Secretary, and the shadow Home Secretary might want to look back at what was said following the China audit. The previous Foreign Secretary was absolutely crystal clear: we will take a long-term, strategic approach to China that is rooted in the UK’s national interest. I understand why the shadow Home Secretary wants to boil down such a complex bilateral relationship into a single word, but the reality is that it is neither helpful nor sensible to do so. The shadow Home Secretary will not be surprised to hear that I do not agree with his characterisations of what he described as the “signals” that this Government have sent to China. In truth, I will not take any lessons from him on that, not least because—I have said this to him previously—it was not so long ago that a Conservative Prime Minister took the leader of China to the pub. When it comes to signals, I am not sure that the shadow Home Secretary speaks with a huge amount of authority. The shadow Home Secretary spoke about FIRS. He knows that the Government’s position is that no decision has been taken with regard to the enhanced tier and China, and any decision taken by the Government will be announced in the normal way. FIRS is a crucial tool, and I am proud that this Government have got on and implemented it as of 1 July. The shadow Home Secretary specifically raised the issue of the embassy in London, as I am sure other hon. Members will. He will know that China’s application to build a new embassy in London is going through an independent planning process. A final decision on planning permission will be made in due course by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, but I can be absolutely clear, in relation to FIRS, the nature of the threat and the embassy, that national security has been, and will continue to be, a core priority for this Government throughout the process. The shadow Home Secretary asked about the CPS decision. I know that he understands that he is asking me about decisions made by the CPS that are entirely independent of Government. This was an independent decision made by the CPS, and it is not for any Government Minister to speculate on the reasons behind it. As I have said—I have been crystal clear—the Government are extremely disappointed with the outcome in this case, and we remain extremely concerned about the espionage threat posed to the United Kingdom.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I am grateful to my hon. Friend and the APPG for their work. The Government are absolutely committed to tackling high street money laundering to deliver safer streets and economic growth working closely with partners through multi-agency initiatives like Operation Machinize. We have strengthened the powers under the Economic, Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, and have funded 475 new roles under the anti-money laundering and asset recovery programme to detect and investigate offences.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  My hon. Friend is right to raise this. New and emerging artificial intelligence technology has the potential to amplify threats to democracy, including through hyper-realistic bots, which are used to spread disinformation and misinformation at speed. The Government are absolutely committed to addressing the threats, including by ensuring that social media platforms have the right systems in place to identify and tackle harmful material that breaches their terms of service.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  We take all those threats incredibly seriously. We hosted the five country ministerial meetings with our American, Canadian, Australian and Kiwi allies just last week. We work incredibly closely with our partners to ensure that we are doing everything we can to support UK businesses and to target the perpetrators of these attacks.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  Any attack on the police is utterly shameful. The right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of our democracy—it is a freedom that we protect fiercely—but Palestine Action’s activities have met the thresholds for proscription established in the Terrorism Act 2000. The organisation has conducted an escalating campaign, involving sustained criminal damage to national security infrastructure, intimidation and alleged violence, including the use of weapons resulting in serious injuries to individuals.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Topical Questions · Hansard source

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  I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the question, because the targeted intimidation and harassment of elected representatives is completely unacceptable. The defending democracy taskforce works to ensure the safety and security of all electoral processes and democratic institutions, and to strengthen democratic society. We are conducting a review of the harassment and intimidation faced by elected representatives. The taskforce has also concluded a review of transnational repression, and we have updated Parliament on that. I hope this will be a shared endeavour, right across the House.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Scientific Procedures: Use of Animals · Hansard source

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  The Department takes its responsibilities under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act extremely seriously. Approvals for the use of animals in science are given only when no alternatives exist and where the scientific benefit justifies the potential harm. The Government will soon publish a strategy on how we will work towards phasing out the use of animals in science.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Scientific Procedures: Use of Animals · Hansard source

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  I can give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. The Government authorise the use of animals in science under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in order to support critical national objectives in public health, scientific innovation and environmental protection. The authorisations provided by the regulator are not a blanket approval, but a tightly regulated process that has rigorous and robust ethical, legal and scientific scrutiny.

• 15 Sept 2025 · Scientific Procedures: Use of Animals · Hansard source

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  I am grateful to the hon. Member. Herbie’s law is a proposed legislative framework to phase out animal experiments, specifically in medical research, in the UK by 2035. The Government’s commitment is clear: we will partner with scientists, industry and civil society to work towards a long-term goal of phasing out the use of animals in scientific research and testing. I will ensure that he receives a letter from the relevant Minister.

• 10 Sept 2025 · Draft Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000 (Port Examination Codes of Practice) Regulations 2025 · Hansard source

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  I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000 (Port Examination Codes of Practice) Regulations 2025. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Sir Roger. This statutory instrument, which was laid before the House on 9 July, brings forward revised codes of practice for the exercise of powers under schedule 7 to the Terrorism Act 2000 and schedule 3 to the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019. Those powers are vital tools in our national security framework. They allow a counter-terrorism police officer to stop, question, search and detain a person at a port or the border area in Northern Ireland to determine whether the person is or has been involved in terrorism or hostile activity, respectively. The changes we are debating today follow a public consultation held earlier this year that ran from 17 March to 27 April. The consultation invited views from a wide range of stakeholders, including legal experts, civil liberties organisations, operational partners and members of the public. It focused on proposed updates to the codes of practice to ensure that they remain clear, proportionate and fit for purpose. The Government’s response was published on 23 June. Let me take the opportunity to express my gratitude to everyone who engaged with the consultation. The feedback received has helped to shape the final versions of the codes, which now provide greater clarity on how these powers are to be exercised and therefore strengthen safeguards for individuals subject to examination. I will briefly summarise the key changes that will be made by this instrument. First, a minor element of how examining officers can use the powers in the border area of Northern Ireland will be clarified. The updated guidance makes clear that officers can ask someone why they are in the border area to help them decide whether the person falls within scope of the powers before any formal examination begins. Secondly, the distinction between counter-terrorism and public order policing will be reinforced. Schedule 7 powers are designed to help police to identify individuals who may be involved in terrorism. They are not meant to be used for managing protests or public order. However, in rare cases, someone’s protest activity might cross a line, for example if it involves serious violence to promote a political cause and could meet the legal definition of terrorism. In such situations, officers may use schedule 7 powers to assess whether the person is involved in terrorism. Thirdly, consular access guidance will be improved. Individuals detained under these powers have the right to contact their embassy, high commission or consulate. The codes now clarify that questioning may proceed once a request for consular notification has been acted on, even if the consulate is not yet available. That ensures that detained individuals understand their rights and that officers act promptly. Fourthly, notification safeguards will be enhanced. Officers must inform individuals when an examination begins. That is a key safeguard to ensure that people understand their rights and responsibilities. The updated codes confirm that this notice can be given verbally or in writing, which is especially helpful where language or communication barriers exist. That will make the process clearer and more accessible. These changes are designed to strengthen public confidence, support operational effectiveness and ensure compliance with human rights obligations. With that, I commend the regulations to the Committee.

• 10 Sept 2025 · Draft Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 and the Terrorism Act 2000 (Port Examination Codes of Practice) Regulations 2025 · Hansard source

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  I thank the hon. Members for Reigate and for Sutton and Cheam for the constructive and reasonable comments that they have made. Let me seek to respond to them as best I can. First, let me take the opportunity to reiterate the importance of these powers. Both schedule 7 and schedule 3 are essential tools in our counter-terrorism and counter-state threat networks. They allow officers to act swiftly and decisively at the border to detect and disrupt those who pose a threat to our national security. I thank the hon. Member for Reigate for her kind words. It is indeed a privilege and a pleasure to continue to serve, not only in the Home Office but also now in the Cabinet Office. I have been in touch with the shadow Home Secretary, the right hon. Member for Croydon South (Chris Philp), to seek to talk to him about the nature of the changes that we have made across Government. I think there will be very significant benefits in terms of our ability to co-ordinate national security activity across Government, and I very much hope that will have the support of Members right across the House. The hon. Lady will know, I hope, that we have always approached matters relating to national security not on a party political basis. These are matters of the most profound importance. My approach as Security Minister will always be to work closely with Members across the House, and certainly with Opposition Members, but I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her comments. The hon. Lady asked an entirely reasonable question, seeking assurances about conversations that we have had with the police. I can give her the reassurance that she seeks. We have worked incredibly carefully with the police. Of course, I am always required to make the point that the police are operationally independent of Government, as she knows, but we work to ensure that any changes, whether to codes of practice or, obviously, to more weighty matters relating to legislation, are worked through very closely with police forces, both nationally and locally. We value the work that our police officers do, we recognise the challenges that they face, and this Government—as I am sure the last Government did as well—will always work as closely as we can with them. The hon. Lady made an entirely reasonable point about the observations of the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall. Let me say something about him as an individual, because his name often gets raised in these kinds of forums. He is someone who speaks with great credibility and authority on these matters, and I think has widespread respect throughout the House. Having worked closely with him in opposition and in government, I know that there is a diligence and an authority as well as an independence to the work he does, and the Government always listen very carefully to his recommendations. The hon. Lady specifically asked about Northern Ireland. I am conscious that with us is a distinguished former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon, so I shall choose my words carefully, not least because he may take the opportunity to intervene on me. Specifically regarding the use of powers in the Northern Ireland border area, I can tell the hon. Lady that the Government do recognise the sensitivities. The codes now provide greater clarity on the preparatory powers available to officers, and explicitly address concerns raised by the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation in his report, which I think dates back to 2022. The changes that we have made ensure that the powers will be used only for national security purposes. It is also worth making the point that, on public order policing, the Government have accepted the independent reviewer’s recommendation that schedule 7 should not be used to manage protest activity. I can reassure the hon. Lady that we work very closely with the independent reviewer and we look very closely that the recommendations that he has made. I now turn to the points that were very reasonably made by the Liberal Democrat spokesman. I understand the concerns that he and his colleagues, including the leader of his party, have raised on matters of proscription. His Front Bench spokesperson, the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, has had a number of briefs on Privy Council terms on these matters, but should the hon. Gentleman or the hon. Lady require further information from this Government, we stand ready to provide it. The hon. Gentleman knows the Government’s position with regard to the proscription of Palestine Action. The Government believe that the decision to proscribe was necessary and proportionate, and we have sought to explain that as well as we are able to, given some of the limitations that are imposed upon us—not least ongoing police investigations and ongoing court proceedings. However, I do recognise the concerns that the hon. Member and others have raised about the process of proscription, and I can say to him, as I have said to the House previously, that these are matters that the previous Home Secretary, the current Home Secretary and I take incredibly seriously. We were satisfied, based on the advice that we received, that the decision that was taken was both proportionate and necessary. I understand that he will not agree with that, but I hope that he understands the reasons why we took the decision. Let me say a word before seeking to conclude, because I am grateful for the attention of Committee members but I do not intend to detain them further. I again offer thanks to Opposition Members for their contributions, and I finish by emphasising that public safety and national security are priorities of the utmost importance for this Government. In discharging those critical responsibilities we are fiercely committed to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, and it is in that spirit that we brought forward these draft regulations, which I commend to the Committee once more. Question put and agreed to.

• 8 Sept 2025 · Omar al-Bayoumi: Arrest and Extradition · Hansard source

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  I know that the right hon. Gentleman applies a huge weight of judgment and consideration to these matters, so I completely understand why he sought to bring this matter to the House’s attention. I hope, though, that he understands that I am very limited in what I can say by way of response. The right hon. Gentleman will remember—I do not think he will mind my saying that he has been around for quite a long time—that in 2001 we were operating under the Extradition Act 1989. As he has mentioned, The Sunday Times has reported that key documents were not considered in 2001 when Mr Omar al-Bayoumi was subject to investigation in respect of the 9/11 bombings in the United States of America. The Sunday Times article suggests that the US did not pursue extradition in 2001. The right hon. Gentleman will understand that there are legal proceedings ongoing in the United States, and that means that I am not able to say any more at this point. I hope that he and the House will understand the reasons for that.

• 8 Sept 2025 · Omar al-Bayoumi: Arrest and Extradition · Hansard source

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  I agree with the right hon. Gentleman that this is an important matter with wider ramifications. I will not commit to the formal review that he describes, but I commit to him, and to the House, that we will look carefully at the issues that have been raised and the points he makes, and I will endeavour to come back to him and others on this issue as soon as possible.

• 8 Sept 2025 · Omar al-Bayoumi: Arrest and Extradition · Hansard source

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  I am grateful to the shadow Home Secretary for his remarks. He understandably referenced the article in yesterday’s edition of The Sunday Times , which I accept raises a number of important questions that are absolutely worthy of scrutiny and deserving of the House’s attention. I give him an assurance that the Government and I, as Security Minister, will look closely at the matters raised in the context of the debate. I do not accept the point he made that we are seeking to hide behind the legal proceedings taking place in the US. An article was published in a newspaper yesterday, and I give both the shadow Home Secretary and the right hon. Member for Goole and Pocklington (David Davis) an assurance that we will look carefully at the detail contained within it. The shadow Home Secretary also made a reasonable point about the Intelligence and Security Committee. As an experienced Member and a former Minister, he will know that it is not for me to direct the activities of the ISC. It is an independent Committee, and it is very much a matter for the Chair and the Committee to decide what they wish to pursue. However, knowing the Chair as I do—he will be well known to hon. Members right across the House—I would be surprised if he did not want to take a look at it.

• 8 Sept 2025 · Omar al-Bayoumi: Arrest and Extradition · Hansard source

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  The attacks on 9/11 were an appalling assault on freedom. We remember the courage displayed by the American people in the aftermath and in the years since; ahead of the anniversary this week, our thoughts remain with the victims and survivors, as well as all who loved them. Almost 25 years on, there is a risk that we might forget the destructive and barbaric scale of the attacks on 9/11. I would like to remind this House that the attacks killed nearly 3,000 innocent people, injured thousands more and gave rise to substantial long-term health consequences for the victims. The 11 September attacks are the deadliest act of terrorism in human history. I would like to take this opportunity to remember every single one of the victims and their families. In addition to the huge loss of life, the attacks also caused at least $10 billion-worth of infrastructure and property damage. It would be inappropriate to comment on an individual case, such as the one that the right hon. Gentleman raises. As he will know, it is also a long-standing Government policy—followed by successive Governments —to neither confirm nor deny an arrest for the purpose of an extradition request. The purpose of this policy is to protect the confidentiality of ongoing investigations, reciprocate international best practice, maintain trust and confidence between states, and minimise the risk of fugitives escaping justice. It is always a matter for the competent authorities in requesting territories if they wish to make a request for extradition to the UK. There is an ongoing civil legal action in the United States, and due to those ongoing legal proceedings, the Government are not able to comment further today. The extradition process is a formal international procedure where one country requests another to return a person accused or convicted of a serious offence to stand trial or serve a sentence. The process typically begins with a formal request from one country to another. Extradition from the UK is governed by the Extradition Act 2003. For all countries outside the EU, a state-to-state system operates, whereby requests are sent between Governments, with decision-making split between Ministers and the UK courts. Whether or not formal extradition arrangements are in place with the requesting state will determine how incoming requests progress through the UK system. There are many countries where bilateral or multilateral treaties are in place. However, the UK can co-operate with any country on an ad hoc basis through the special extradition arrangements provisions in the 2003 Act. The Home Office has an operational case working unit—the UK central authority—which exercises the Home Secretary’s responsibilities for non-EU extradition to and from the UK. For all incoming extradition requests sent to the UK from any country in the world, the 2003 Act requires a UK judge to decide whether the requested person’s extradition would be compatible with their human rights. The UK unequivocally supports the rule of law; all individuals requested for extradition are considered individually by our independent courts, complying with the provisions of the 2003 Act.

• 8 Sept 2025 · Omar al-Bayoumi: Arrest and Extradition · Hansard source

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  I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will understand that on this occasion, I want to look forward, rather than back. The United Kingdom Government hugely value the relationship that we have with Saudi Arabia, and I visited it relatively recently. It is an important regional partner, and we want to work as closely and constructively with it as we can.

• 8 Sept 2025 · Omar al-Bayoumi: Arrest and Extradition · Hansard source

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  On the right hon. Member’s final point, I refer him to the response I gave to his right hon. Friend the Member for New Forest East (Sir Julian Lewis) a moment ago, but I agree about the importance of this matter. That day will be engrained in the minds of us all; I certainly remember exactly where I was. The world changed, and my life changed alongside it. I absolutely share his concern about these matters, and I completely agree with his point about the responsibility we have for the UK victims of that horrendous terrorist attack. I give him an assurance of the seriousness with which we take these matters.

• 8 Sept 2025 · Omar al-Bayoumi: Arrest and Extradition · Hansard source

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  I am grateful to the hon. Member, as I always am, not least because he speaks with great authority on matters relating to terrorism. I have had the privilege of discussing it with him on many occasions. He raises important points. I can only reiterate the importance that this Government attach to keeping the public safe and working with our international allies to defeat international terrorism. This Government will do everything that we need to do to stand against the terrorists and with those affected by their destructive activities.