Hikvision and other Chinese Companies selling surveillance cameras in the UK – parliamentary replies reveal same negligent attitude which led to the UK spending millions on Huawei in our telecoms infrastructure and then stripping it out at enormous public cost.
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool :
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the national security implications of government departments using Chinese-made surveillance cameras and technology; and what assessment they have made of the use of such cameras by (1) local councils, (2) schools, and (3) NHS trusts. (HL6108)
Tabled on: 09 February 2022
Answer:
Lord True:
As has been the case under successive administrations, it is not government policy to comment on the security arrangements of government buildings. Specific details regarding the use of security systems by public bodies are withheld on national security grounds.
Date and time of answer: 21 Feb 2022 at 16:54.
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Baroness Barran, the Department for Education, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL6064):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use in schools, colleges and universities of Chinese-made surveillance cameras made by companies which are currently subject to US sanctions and investment bans. (HL6064)
Tabled on: 08 February 2022
Answer:
Baroness Barran:
Educational settings including schools, colleges and universities have delegated budget responsibility and can procure surveillance, security and CCTV systems autonomously.
For the procurement, sourcing and installation of surveillance, security and CCTV systems, the Department for Education will recommend and default to specification that includes as a minimum High Definition 1080P systems, compliant to BS EN 50132-7:2012 or BS EN 62676-4:2015.
The Department for Education does not mandate (or exclude) a country of origin for products and have made no assessments on the use of any specific products or vendors. Any decision regarding specific exclusion would be made at a broader cross-government level, with the Department for Education following that advice and communicating to schools via standard guidance and regular communications. In January, the government announced the provision of new guidance and support for UK public sector bodies, which will include schools, to exclude suppliers where there is sufficient evidence of human rights violations in any of their supply chains.
The Department for Education utilises existing guidance provided via the National Cyber Security Centre and will reiterate this to the Education sector via our scheduled communications to ensure schools remain aware and vigilant. More information can be found here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/consumers-urged-secure-internet-connected-cameras and here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/connected-places-security-principles/about-the-principles.
Date and time of answer: 22 Feb 2022 at 17:59.
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Baroness Williams of Trafford, the Home Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL6066):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use by police forces in England and Wales of Chinese-made surveillance cameras made by companies currently subject to US sanctions and investment bans. (HL6066)
Tabled on: 08 February 2022
Answer:
Baroness Williams of Trafford:
The use of surveillance cameras is an operational matter for the police and the Government has therefore not assessed it.
The FCDO and Cabinet Office will issue guidance to enable buyers to more effectively exercise their discretion to exclude suppliers linked with modern slavery and human rights violations. The Public Procurement Bill will further strengthen the ability of public sector bodies to disqualify suppliers from bidding for contracts where they have a history of misconduct, including forced labour or modern slavery.
Date and time of answer: 22 Feb 2022 at 17:19.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL6067):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use of Chinese-made surveillance cameras made by companies currently subject to US sanctions and investment bans (1) by local councils and other buildings in public ownership, and (2) by shopping precincts and in high streets. (HL6067)
Tabled on: 08 February 2022
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon:
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 which provides firms with clear, up-to-date information and specialist support to help 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. In addition, the Government has introduced Overseas Business Risk guidance that makes it clear to UK businesses the need to consider the risks of exposure to entities that may be providing or developing surveillance technologies. The Government is also working to provide additional guidance for UK Government bodies to help them exclude suppliers where there is sufficient evidence of modern slavery violations in any of their supply chains. We continue to keep our policy position under review, working closely with our international partners.
Date and time of answer: 22 Feb 2022 at 17:17.
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Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL6063):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance they have issued regarding local public bodies’ use of surveillance cameras and technology from (1) Dahua Technology, and (2) Hikvision. (HL6063)
Tabled on: 08 February 2022
Answer:
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: 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 which provides firms with clear, up-to-date information and specialist support to help 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. In addition, the Government has introduced Overseas Business Risk guidance that makes it clear to UK businesses the need to consider the risks of exposure to entities that may be providing or developing surveillance technologies. The Government is also working to provide additional guidance for UK Government bodies to help them exclude suppliers where there is sufficient evidence of modern slavery violations in any of their supply chains. We continue to keep our policy position under review, working closely with our international partners.
Date and time of answer: 22 Feb 2022 at 17:17.
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Baroness Goldie, the Ministry of Defence, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL6109):
Question by Lord Alton of Liverpool:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Ministry of Defence has made any use of (1) Dahua Technology, and (2) Hikvision, cameras. (HL6109)
Tabled on: 09 February 2022
Answer:
Baroness Goldie:
As has been the case under successive Governments, it is not Defence policy to comment on our security arrangements on national security grounds (including details on which products or services are used).
Date and time of answer: 23 Feb 2022 at 14:05.
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