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If you'd like to read our full write-up of the debate around the China spying allegations, click here.

The accused parliamentary researcher, who the BBC is not naming, has responded to the accusations published by the Sunday Times here.

And our chief political correspondent, Henry Zeffman, has reported on calls for more intensive vetting of parliamentary staff in the wake of the allegations here.

Here’s a quick summary of what’s happened in the House of Commons this afternoon:

• Speaking after it emerged a Parliamentary researcher was arrested in March for allegedly spying for China, PM Rishi Sunak said the whole House of Commons was "rightly appalled" at reports of "espionage in this building"

• Sunak said he told Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the G20 summit that "actions which seek to undermine British democracy are completely unacceptable"
• Earlier Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden outlined the measures the government had already taken to manage challenges posed by China - including banning the use of TikTok on government phones.
• Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer raised the question of whether Foreign Secretary James Cleverly knew about the arrests before his visit to China in March

• Earlier Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said relevant people were "immediately briefed on a strictly confidential basis"
• China has called the accusations "malicious slander"
• The Parliamentary researcher in question denies the allegations

The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg and chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman discussed on Newscast whether the government’s stance on China has cooled since the days of PM David Cameron.

Kuenssberg recalls , externala "tense" news conference when journalists asked the Chinese leader about human rights just after Cameron had travelled with Xi Jinping down Whitehall in a golden carriage.

To listen to the full podcast go over to BBC Sounds here.

The PM said he had told the Chinese premier, Li Qiang, that actions that undermine British democracy will never be tolerated.

Labour leader Keir Starmer earlier asked the PM if the foreign secretary knew about the spying allegations before his trip to China.

Gordon Corera
Security correspondent, BBC News

Image source, NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

The allegation that a researcher in Parliament may have been spying for China has thrown a spotlight on Chinese intelligence activity in the UK - and whether the UK has been slow to respond.

Spying used to be fairly straightforward. An intelligence service recruited an agent to steal or photograph some documents stamped 'Top Secret' from a safe and pass them on at a clandestine meeting.

Now, there is cyber-espionage - the stealing of secrets remotely over computer networks.

And intelligence services do more than just steal secrets. There is covert influence and interference. This might involve finding people who know the inside track on a policy debate - say about sanctions - and who might be able to shape it in a particular way. This can be hard to distinguish sometimes from diplomacy and lobbying (hiding who you really are is often the best sign).

And in this new world, China poses a particular challenge. It has vast and well-resourced intelligence services - probably the largest by number in the world.

Read the full article from Gordon Corera here

The SNP's Kirsty Blackman asked why MPs learned about the spying allegations from the Times newspaper.

We're taking a look back at some of the statements we heard earlier in the Commons. Deputy PM Oliver Dowden said that China represents a "systemic challenge to the UK and to our values".

We've been getting more political reaction on the debate around China, this time from shadow foreign secretary David Lammy who has been speaking to BBC Radio 4's PM programme.

He says the debate over whether China represents a "threat" or a "challenge" could be a distraction.

"Frankly, the debate does turn me off a little, he says.

"We need to focus on the substance of our strategy towards China, not a binary debate about the word.

"Reducing our relationship to one word is very difficult.

"The truth is, all countries engage in spying, but it is very important we take our security and information that can fall into enemy hands as seriously as possible."

Helen Catt
Political correspondent

Two words kept coming up again and again in the Commons this afternoon.

The first: "Clear-eyed"

Oliver Dowden kept using this phrase when he was speaking earlier to suggest the government knows what it's doing when it comes to China.

He maintained that means recognising the challenges it poses, but to keep on engaging.

The second word was: "threat"

This came from a number of backbenchers on both sides of the Commons

It showed there is strong feeling among some MPs that they don't believe ministers are "clear-eyed" enough and think they should be going further.

Chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood raises one of his own projects - creating an international “Maritime Protection Force” to escort grain ships out of Ukraine.

He asks the prime minister if he will raise the idea with allies at the upcoming Food Security Summit in the UK.

The plan will help both the Ukrainian and UK economies as it “will impact rising food prices” he argues.

Sunak thanks Ellwood for his work on maritime safety in the Back Sea.

The UK is working with allies to consider “different ways we can ensure safe access of grain from Ukraine”, he says.

Chris Bryant says one of the things that "should keep the PM up at night" is when a British national is arbitrary detained in a foreign country - referring to Jagtar Singh Johal who has been detained in India for six years.

He questions whether the PM is using "every ounce of energy" to secure his release, adding "everyone knows he is being tortured and mistreated".

Sunak in response says the UK government has "consistently raised concerns" about the case with the Indian government, including over mistreatment, and that he raised the issue directly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20.

Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Julian Lewis, asks if Sunak will commit to reinstating an annual secure meeting - between the PM and committee - to allow for "proper scrutiny" of the government.

He says has not taken place since 2014 and notes Liz Truss had volunteered to do so during her "short term in office".

Sunak says he is happy to consider the request and welcomes the committee's report, which he reiterates the government will respond to shortly.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey quotes Ukraine’s official response to the G20 declaration, telling the chamber it is “nothing to be proud of”.

He points out Russia called it a “step in the right direction”.

Why did the prime minister feel he was justified in signing up to “such a weak” statement, he asks.

Sunak criticises Davey for basing his argument on quotes from Russian officials. “We shouldn’t believe a word coming out of Russia’s mouth” he says.

He goes on to say the UK “fought hard” to write a statement that he believes uses “substantially very strong language regarding Russia” – which all G20 leaders agreed to sign up to.

Image source, House of Commons

John Redwood asks the PM whether the Chinese representatives at the G20 summit indicated when the country would reduce CO2 emissions.

He then asks Sunak for his thoughts on China exporting electric vehicles and solar panels to the UK"when they are so CO2 intensive in production" and deny jobs to British workers.

Sunak says all members of the G20 recognised the need to peak emissions in the next couple of years.

He says if action is taken in the UK on climate change, it should not come at the cost of British workers if it makes no difference to global emissions.

Image source, House of Commons

Sunak accuses Starmer of trying to score cheap political points and says the Labour leader would prefer to "talk the country down".

On the EU trade agreement, the PM says Starmer's approach during the Brexit process was just to "sign any deal".

Sunak says the right thing to do for the British people is to "fight for what is right", noting the UK was the first European country to join a trans-Pacific trade deal between Asian and American nations.

The prime minister has ended his statement, but he will take questions from MPs - so stick with us and we'll bring you his answers.

Sunak says he is limited in what he can say about the arrested researcher. But confirms Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, on his recent visit to China, raised concerns about attempts to interfere with UK democracy.

He says Starmer “failed to mention” the UK helped to found the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. But – like Canada and Italy - did not put its name to the latest project.

It will contain “a range of different projects” and each country will decide how to contribute.

Instead, the UK made the single largest contribution to the Green Climate Fund.

Image source, House of Commons

Starmer asks why a free trade deal has not been secured between the UK and India, given the government had promised a deal at various times in the past.

The Labour leader says the government once promised a "new era of post-Brexit global trade" but instead has "erected unnecessary barriers", making Britain a more difficult place to do business.

"This government is too distracted, too complacent and has no plan to seize the opportunities of the future", he says.

Starmer returns to the allegations of spying, asking Sunak if Foreign Secretary James Cleverly knew about the claims before his visit to China in March.

And if he did, did he raise it on the trip? Starmer asks - calling on the PM to directly address his "specific" question.

Starmer notes that it does not seem that the government plans to declare China a direct threat, asking for details about how the UK will tackle Beijing's interference.

Sir Keir Starmer joins Rishi Sunak in sending condolences to those affected by the Moroccan earthquake.

Sir Keir says the joint declaration secured by Sunak is “disappointing” as it uses “weaker language” to condemn Russia than was published after last years’ meeting of the G20.

He goes on to add that the meeting of world leaders was “a real opportunity” to condemn Russia over its aggression in Ukraine and “boost renewable energy around the world”.

The UK Parliament is united in condemning Russia for its “unjust illegal war against Ukraine”, he adds.

Image source, House of Commons