Citation, commencement and extent

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Security Act 2023 (Foreign Activities and Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: Information and Disclosure) Regulations 2025.

(2) They come into force when Part 4 of the Act comes fully into force.

(3) They extend to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Interpretation

2.  In these Regulations—

“the Act” means the National Security Act 2023;

“officer” has the meaning given in paragraph 2 of Schedule 13 to the Act, but ignoring references in that definition to those purporting to act in such capacities;

“P” has the meaning given—

Registration: foreign activity arrangements (section 65 of the Act)

3.—(1) This regulation applies where P registers a foreign activity arrangement under section 65(4) of the Act.

(2) The registration must contain the following information—

(a)in relation to P, the information identified in—

(i)Part 1 of Schedule 1 (if P is an individual),

(ii)Part 2 of Schedule 1 (if P is a body corporate), or

(iii)Part 3 of Schedule 1 (if P is an unincorporated association);

(b)in relation to the specified person(2) in question, the full name of the specified person;

(c)the information identified in Part 1 of Schedule 2;

(d)where the registration relates (in whole or part) to political influence activities(3), the information identified in Part 2 of Schedule 2 in relation to the political influence activities.

Registration: registrable activities: specified persons (section 68 of the Act)

4.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where a specified person registers relevant activities(4) under section 68(1) or (2) of the Act (registrations relating to specified persons who are not foreign powers).

(2) The registration must contain the following information—

(a)in relation to the specified person, the information identified in—

(i)Part 2 of Schedule 1 (if the specified person is a body corporate), or

(ii)Part 3 of Schedule 1 (if the specified person is an unincorporated association);

(b)the information identified in Part 1 of Schedule 3;

(c)where the registration relates (in whole or part) to political influence activities, the information identified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 in relation to the political influence activities.

(3) Paragraph (4) applies where a specified person registers relevant activities under section 68(3) of the Act (registrations relating to specified persons who are foreign powers, where office-holder, etc., of foreign power to make misrepresentation).

(4) The registration must contain the following information—

(a)the name and relevant contact details of the specified person making the registration;

(b)the information identified in Parts 1 and 3 of Schedule 3;

(c)where the registration relates (in whole or part) to political influence activities, the information identified in Part 2 of Schedule 3 in relation to the political influence activities.

(5) In paragraph (4)(a) the “relevant contact details” are, in relation to the specified person, a contact email address, telephone number and correspondence address.

Registration: foreign influence arrangements (section 69 of the Act)

5.—(1) This regulation applies where P registers a foreign influence arrangement under section 69(3) of the Act (requirement to register foreign influence arrangements).

(2) The registration must contain the following information—

(a)in relation to P, the information identified in—

(i)Part 1 of Schedule 1 (if P is an individual),

(ii)Part 2 of Schedule 1 (if P is a body corporate), or

(iii)Part 3 of Schedule 1 (if P is an unincorporated association);

(b)in relation to the foreign power who has directed P, the name of the foreign power;

(c)the information identified in Schedule 4.

Registration: political influence activities of foreign powers (section 72 of the Act)

6.—(1) This regulation applies where a foreign power registers political influence activities under section 72(1) of the Act (office-holders, etc., of foreign power to make misrepresentation).

(2) The registration must contain the following information—

(a)the name and relevant contact details of the foreign power;

(b)the information identified in Schedule 5.

(3) In paragraph (2)(a) the “relevant contact details” are, in relation to the foreign power, a contact email address, telephone number and correspondence address.

Registration: registrations undertaken by representatives: additional information to be registered

7.—(1) Where a registration falling within any of regulations 3 to 6 is undertaken by a representative of the person who is obliged to register under the regulation concerned, the registration must contain in respect of the representative—

(a)where the representative is an individual, the information identified in Schedule 1, paragraphs 1, 7 and 8;

(b)where the representative is a body corporate, the information identified in Schedule 1, paragraphs 9, 13 or 14 and 15;

(c)where the representative is an unincorporated association, the information identified in Schedule 1, paragraphs 17, 21 and 22.

(2) In paragraph (1) “representative” means a person who has been appointed to act on behalf of the person who is obliged to register in connection with the registration.

Registration: form and language

8.—(1) A registration falling within any of regulations 3 to 6 must be made in writing.

(2) The information contained within it must be expressed in English or Welsh.

(3) Paragraph (2) does not apply to relevant identity information within the meaning of paragraph 4 of Schedule 1.

Informing Secretary of State of material change: form

9.  Where a person is required to inform the Secretary of State of a material change in accordance with section 74(5) of the Act, this must be done—

(a)in writing, and

(b)in English or Welsh.

Information notices: minimum period for reply

10.—(1) This regulation makes provision for the purposes of section 75(5)(b) of the Act in relation to the minimum period required between the date on which an information notice is given and the date which is to be specified in the notice for the supply of the information (“the minimum period”).

(2) Where an information notice is given by the means specified in the first column of the table, the minimum period is specified in the second column of the table—

(3) In paragraph (2) “working day” means any day which is not a Saturday, a Sunday, Good Friday, Christmas Day or a day which is a bank holiday in any part of the United Kingdom under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(5).

Disclosure

11.  The Secretary of State may disclose to any person information provided to the Secretary of State under or by virtue of section 74 or 75 of the Act—

(a)for the purpose of facilitating the exercise by the Secretary of State of functions under Part 4 of the Act,

(b)for the purposes of the prevention or detection of crime,

(c)for the purposes of a criminal investigation,

(d)for the purposes of criminal proceedings,

(e)for the purposes of protecting the safety or interests of the United Kingdom, or

(f)for the purposes of the formulation of policy by the Secretary of State or the Treasury.

Review

12.—(1) The Secretary of State must from time to time—

(a)carry out a review of the regulatory provision contained in these Regulations, and

(b)publish a report setting out the conclusions of the review.

(2) The first report must be published before the end of the period of five years beginning with the day on which these Regulations come into force.

(3) Subsequent reports must be published at intervals not exceeding five years.

(4) Section 30(4) of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015(6) requires that a report published under this regulation must, in particular—

(a)set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory provision referred to in paragraph (1)(a),

(b)assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved,

(c)assess whether those objectives remain appropriate, and

(d)if those objectives remain appropriate, assess the extent to which they could be achieved in another way which involves less onerous regulatory provision.

(5) In this regulation, “regulatory provision” has the same meaning as in sections 28 to 32 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (see section 32 of that Act).

Regulations 3 to 5 and 7

SCHEDULE 1Information to be registered relating to persons

PART 1Individuals

1.  Full name and any former name.

2.  Date of birth.

3.  Nationality.

4.—(1) Where the individual holds a valid relevant identity document, the relevant identity information for the highest category of valid relevant identity document held by the individual.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)—

(a)the relevant identity documents and the relevant identity information which corresponds to each are set out in the following table,

(b)a relevant identity document is valid if it has been issued, and has not expired,

(c)Category A is the highest and Category F is the lowest, and

(d)where the individual holds more than one relevant identity document in the same category, the relevant identity information is that corresponding to any of those documents.

(3) In the table, a “copy” includes an electronic copy (such as a digital photograph or scan).

5.  Paragraph 6 applies where the individual does not hold a relevant identity document falling within any of Categories A to F of the table in paragraph 4(2).

6.  Where this paragraph applies and the individual, as the case may be—

(a)has a United Kingdom national insurance number, that fact and the number;

(b)does not have a United Kingdom national insurance number, but has a social security number issued by a country or territory outside the United Kingdom—

(i)that fact,

(ii)the name country or territory issuing the social security number, and

(iii)the number.

7.  Residential address and, if different, correspondence address.

8.  Telephone number and email address (where available).

PART 2Bodies corporate

9.  Full name and any trading names.

10.  Where the body corporate is required by law (whether of the United Kingdom or of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom) to have a number in a public register, the name of the register and that number.

11.  The date on which the body corporate was incorporated.

12.  The country or territory under the laws of which the body corporate is incorporated.

13.  Where the body corporate is required by law (whether of the United Kingdom or of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom) to have a registered address, that address.

14.  Where the body corporate is not required by law (whether of the United Kingdom or of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom) to have a registered address, the address of the principal office of the body corporate.

15.  Correspondence address, telephone number and email address.

16.  In relation to at least one officer of the body corporate, the information required by Part 1.

PART 3Unincorporated associations

17.  The name by which the unincorporated association is known.

18.  Where the unincorporated association is required by law (whether of the United Kingdom or of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom) to have a number in a public register, the name of the register and that number.

19.  The date on which the unincorporated association was formed.

20.  The country or territory in which the unincorporated association has its principal office.

21.  The principal address of the unincorporated association.

22.  Correspondence address, telephone number and email address.

23.  In relation to at least one officer of the unincorporated association, the information required by Part 1.

Regulation 3

SCHEDULE 2Information: foreign activity arrangements (section 65 of the Act)

PART 1General

1.  A description of the nature and form of the agreement or arrangement between the specified person and P, under which P has been directed in the manner described in section 65(1) of the Act.

2.  The date on which the direction falling within section 65(1) of the Act was given to P.

3.  In relation to the relevant activities to be carried out or arranged under a direction falling within section 65(1) of the Act, a description of—

(a)the relevant activities,

(b)the purpose of the relevant activities, and

(c)the outcome sought as a result of the relevant activities.

4.  Where P has been directed as described in section 65(1) of the Act to arrange for relevant activities to be carried out—

(a)where it is practicable to provide the names of any persons who will carry out the relevant activities—

(i)the name of each person,

(ii)the role of each person in relation to the relevant activities,

(iii)the relationship of each person to P, and

(iv)the correspondence address, telephone number and email address of each person (where practicable);

(b)where it is not practicable to provide the names under sub-paragraph (a), a description of the persons who will carry out the relevant activities, the roles of such persons in relation to the relevant activities and the relationship of such persons to P.

5.  The date on which the relevant activities commenced or on which P anticipates that they will commence.

6.  If the relevant activities are to continue over, or are to be repeated over, more than one day, a statement of this.

7.  A statement, as the case may be—

(a)of the date on which P anticipates that the relevant activities will end, or

(b)that P anticipates that the relevant activities will continue indefinitely.

PART 2Additional information: political influence activities

8.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(a) of the Act (communications with certain public officials)—

(a)either—

(i)the name and role of the person to whom the communication is to be or was made, or

(ii)a description of the class of persons falling within each of paragraphs 1 to 27 of Schedule 14 to the Act to whom the communication is to be or was made and their roles,

(b)the nature and (where known) form of the communication,

(c)the purpose of the communication, and

(d)the outcome sought as a result of the communication.

9.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(b) of the Act (public communications)—

(a)the nature and (where known) form of the communication,

(b)the intended audience of the communication (if known),

(c)the purpose of the communication (if known), and

(d)the outcome sought as a result of the communication (if known).

10.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(c) of the Act (distributing money, goods or services to UK persons)—

(a)where applicable, the nature of the goods or services distributed or to be distributed,

(b)the actual or estimated value of the money, goods or services distributed or to be distributed,

(c)where a distribution has been or is to be made to an identifiable person—

(i)the name of that person,

(ii)the role or capacity of the person to whom the distribution has been or is to be made (if known),

(d)where a distribution has been or is to be made to a group of persons and it is not practicable to provide the information referred to in sub-paragraph (c), a description of the group of persons (including their role or capacity, if known),

(e)the purpose of the distribution, and

(f)the outcome sought as a result of the distribution.

11.  Where P has been directed, as described in section 65(1) of the Act, to arrange for political influence activities to be carried out—

(a)where it is practicable to provide the names of any persons who will carry out the political influence activities—

(i)the name of each such person,

(ii)the role of each such person in relation to the political influence activities,

(iii)the relationship of each such person to P, and

(iv)the correspondence address, telephone number and email address of each such person (where practicable);

(b)where it is not practicable to provide the names of the people who will carry out those activities, a description of the persons who will carry out the political influence activities, the roles of such persons in relation to the political influence activities and the relationship of such persons to P.

Regulation 4

SCHEDULE 3Information: registrable activities: specified persons (section 68 of the Act)

PART 1General

1.  A description of—

(a)the relevant activities,

(b)the purpose of the relevant activities, and

(c)the outcome sought as a result of the relevant activities.

2.  The date on which the specified person anticipates the relevant activities will commence.

3.  Where relevant activities are to continue over, or are to be repeated over, more than one day, a statement of this.

4.  A statement, as the case may be—

(a)of the date on which the specified person anticipates that the relevant activities will end, or

(b)that the specified person anticipates that the relevant activities will continue indefinitely.

PART 2Additional information: political influence activities

5.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(a) of the Act (communications with certain public officials)—

(a)either—

(i)the name and role of the person to whom the communication is to be or was made, or

(ii)a description of the class of persons falling within each of paragraphs 1 to 27 of Schedule 14 to the Act to whom the communication is to be or was made and their roles,

(b)the nature and (where known) form of the communication,

(c)the purpose of the communication, and

(d)the outcome sought as a result of the communication.

6.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(b) of the Act (public communications)—

(a)the nature and (where known) form of the communication,

(b)the intended audience of the communication (if known),

(c)the purpose of the communication (if known), and

(d)the outcome sought as a result of the communication (if known).

7.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(c) of the Act (distributing money, goods or services to UK persons)—

(a)where applicable, the nature of the goods or services distributed or to be distributed,

(b)the actual or estimated value of the money, goods or services distributed or to be distributed,

(c)where a distribution has been or is to be made to an identifiable person—

(i)the name of that person,

(ii)the role or capacity of the person to whom the distribution has been or is to be made (if known),

(d)where a distribution has been or is to be made to a group of persons and it is not practicable to provide the information referred to in sub-paragraph (c), a description of the group of persons (including their role or capacity, if known),

(e)the purpose of the distribution, and

(f)the outcome sought as a result of the distribution.

PART 3Additional information: misrepresentation (section 68(3) of the Act)

8.  In relation to the person who is to make the misrepresentation, the information identified in Part 1 of Schedule 1.

9.  The nature, form and purpose of the misrepresentation to be made.

10.  The persons, or a description of the persons, to whom the misrepresentation will be made (if known).

11.  A description of the identity to be assumed by the person who is to make the misrepresentation, including, for example, any name, role or employment, responsibilities, activities or address they will purport to have or undertake (where applicable).

12.  The period over which the misrepresentation will be made.

13.  An explanation as to why the misrepresentation will be made.

Regulation 5

SCHEDULE 4Information: foreign influence arrangements (section 69 of the Act)

1.  A description of the nature and form of the agreement or arrangement between the foreign power and P, under which P has been directed in the manner described in section 69(1) of the Act.

2.  The date on which the direction falling within section 69(1) of the Act was given to P.

3.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(a) of the Act (communications with certain public officials)—

(a)either—

(i)the name and role of the person to whom the communication is to be or was made, or

(ii)a description of the class of persons falling within each of paragraphs 1 to 27 of Schedule 14 to the Act to whom the communication is to be or was made and their roles,

(b)the nature and (where known) form of the communication,

(c)the purpose of the communication, and

(d)the outcome sought as a result of the communication.

4.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(b) of the Act (public communications)—

(a)the nature and (where known) form of the communication,

(b)the intended audience of the communication (if known),

(c)the purpose of the communication (if known), and

(d)the outcome sought as a result of the communication (if known).

5.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(c) of the Act (distributing money, goods or services to UK persons)—

(a)where applicable, the nature of the goods or services distributed or to be distributed,

(b)the actual or estimated value of the money, goods or services distributed or to be distributed,

(c)where a distribution has been or is to be made to an identifiable person—

(i)the name of that person,

(ii)the role or capacity of the person to whom the distribution has been or is to be made (if known),

(d)where a distribution has been or is to be made to a group of persons and it is not practicable to provide the information referred to in sub-paragraph (c), a description of the group of persons (including their role or capacity, if known),

(e)the purpose of the distribution, and

(f)the outcome sought as a result of the distribution.

6.  Where P has been directed to arrange for political influence activities to be carried out—

(a)where it is practicable to provide the names of any persons who will carry out the relevant activities—

(i)the name of each such person,

(ii)the role of each such person in relation to the relevant activities,

(iii)the relationship of each such person to P, and

(iv)the correspondence address, telephone number and email address of each such person (where practicable);

(b)where it is not practicable to provide the names under sub-paragraph (a), a description of the persons who will carry out the relevant activities, the roles of such persons in relation to the relevant activities and the relationship of such persons to P.

7.  In relation to the political influence activities—

(a)the date on which the political influence activities commenced or on which P anticipates they will commence;

(b)where political influence activities—

(i)have continued or been repeated over more than one day, or

(ii)are to continue or be repeated over more than one day,

a statement of this;

(c)a statement, as the case may be—

(i)of the date on which the political influence activities ended,

(ii)of the date on which P anticipates that the political influence activities will end, or

(iii)that P anticipates that the political influence activities will continue indefinitely.

Regulation 6

SCHEDULE 5Information: registrations by foreign powers of political influence where office-holders, etc., make misrepresentations (section 72 of the Act)

General

1.  The name of the foreign power.

2.  A description of—

(a)the political influence activities,

(b)the purpose of the political influence activities, and

(c)the outcome sought as a result of the political influence activities.

3.  The date on which the foreign power anticipates the political influence activities will commence.

4.  Where political influence activities are to continue over or are to be repeated over more than one day, a statement of this.

5.  A statement, as the case may be—

(a)of the date on which the foreign power anticipates that the political influence activities will end, or

(b)that the foreign power anticipates that the political influence activities will continue indefinitely.

Information relating to the political influence activities

6.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(a) of the Act (communications with certain public officials)—

(a)either—

(i)the name and role of the person to whom the communication is to be or was made, or

(ii)a description of the class of persons falling within each of paragraphs 1 to 27 of Schedule 14 to the Act to whom the communication is to be or was made and their roles,

(b)the nature and (where known) form of the communication,

(c)the purpose of the communication, and

(d)the outcome sought as a result of the communication.

7.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(b) of the Act (public communications)—

(a)the nature and (where known) form of the communication,

(b)the intended audience of the communication (if known),

(c)the purpose of the communication (if known), and

(d)the outcome sought as a result of the communication (if known).

8.  Where the political influence activities fall within section 70(2)(c) of the Act (distributing money, goods or services to UK persons)—

(a)where applicable, the nature of the goods or services distributed or to be distributed,

(b)the actual or estimated value of the money, goods or services distributed or to be distributed,

(c)where a distribution has been or is to be made to an identifiable person—

(i)the name of that person,

(ii)the role or capacity of the person to whom the distribution has been or is to be made (if known),

(d)where a distribution has been or is to be made to a group of persons and it is not practicable to provide the information referred to in sub-paragraph (c), a description of the group of persons (including their role or capacity, if known),

(e)the purpose of the distribution, and

(f)the outcome sought as a result of the distribution.

Information relating to the misrepresentation

9.  In relation to the person who is to make the misrepresentation, the information identified in Part 1 of Schedule 1.

10.  The nature, form and purpose of the misrepresentation to be made.

11.  The persons, or a description of the persons, to whom the misrepresentation will be made (if known).

12.  A description of the identity to be assumed by the person who is to make the misrepresentation, including, for example, any name, role or employment, responsibilities, activities or address they will purport to have (where applicable).

13.  The period over which the misrepresentation will be made.

14.  An explanation as to why the misrepresentation will be made.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Part 4 of the National Security Act 2023 (c. 32) contains the foreign activities and foreign influence registration scheme (“the scheme”). Four categories of activities or arrangements are required to be registered with the Secretary of State under the scheme:

(1) foreign activity arrangements (section 65),

(2) activities of specified persons (section 68),

(3) foreign influence arrangements (section 69), and

(4) political influence activities of foreign powers where there is misrepresentation in relation to a person working for the foreign power (section 72).

These Regulations set out the information to be registered in relation to each category (regulations 3 to 6). The nature of the information relates both to the person in respect of whom the registration is made (Schedule 1) and the nature of the activities or arrangements to be registered (Schedules 2 to 5).

Where registration is undertaken by a representative of a person (for example, a professional adviser), information about both persons must be provided (regulation 7). Registration must be in writing (regulation 8), as must notifications to the Secretary of State of material changes (regulation 8).

Regulation 10 makes provision, where the Secretary of State issues an information notice to a person (under section 75 of the Act), for the minimum period which must be allowed to comply with it.

Regulation 11 allows the Secretary of State to disclose information provided under the scheme for various public interest purposes.

Regulation 12 concerns five yearly review.

A full impact assessment of the effect that the scheme will have on the costs of business, the voluntary sector and the public sector was published in relation to the National Security Act 2023 and is available on www.gov.uk(7) or by writing to the State Threats Unit, Homeland Security Group, Home Office, 2 Marsham Street SW1P 4DF.