Enhanced Tier

Under the Enhanced Tier, government may specify specific foreign powers or entities. Registration will be required for arrangements to carry out relevant activities at the direction of these specified powers and entities.

Relevant activities are, by default, all activities in the UK and activities which take place abroad, but have effect in the UK (e.g. an email or social media post sent or posted by an individual overseas but targeted at individual in the UK). In some cases the Secretary of State may limit what constitutes ‘relevant activities’ for a specific power or entity.

There is a requirement to register with the scheme under the enhanced tier if these four conditions are met:

• A person makes an arrangement (whether formal or informal) with a specified foreign power or entity
• That arrangement involves a “direction” from the specified foreign power or entity
• The direction is to carry out “relevant activities” in the UK (whether by the registrant themself, or with or through someone else)
• That no exemptions apply to the arrangement or activities.

The registration needs to be made within 10 days of entering the arrangement.

Specified powers or entities

The foreign powers and organisations currently specified under the enhanced tier are from Iran and Russia.

Iran

• Supreme Leader
• Government of Iran and all its agencies and authorities (including all ministers and ministries and the armed forces and police)
• Islamic Consultative Assembly of Iran
• Judiciary of Iran

Russia

• President
• Government and all its agencies and authorities (including all ministers and ministries and the armed forces and police)
• Federal Assembly and State Duma
• Judiciary
• United Russia Party, Communist Party of Russia, Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, Just Russia Party.

Examples

• a specified foreign power directs a UK researcher to send research information to them or another entity
• a specified foreign power funds a UK research project on a specific topic
• a University hosts a cultural or language centre whose activities are directed by a specified foreign entity
• a researcher organises a workshop at the direction of a specified foreign entity
• a university receives a donation from a specified power directed for use to support students from the country.

Government guidance on Enhanced Tier

Anyone who believes that their work may be relevant to FIRS or if you have any questions related to the scheme, please contact UniversitySecretary@tees.ac.uk.