Page:ISC-China.pdf/81

HMG Resourcing The allocation of effort has increased *** over the past two decades from ***% in 1999 to ***% in 2019 and then ***% in 2020.

Towards the end of 2020, the JIC Chair told us: "*** In terms of my time, I would say that I probably spend about ***% of my time on China, something of that sort."

DI statistics for 2020 show that: *** analysts spent 50% or more of their time on China (a decrease from *** last year) and *** analysts spent less than 50% of their time on China (an increase from *** last year). *** DI spends £*** on China-related activity. Alongside broader politico-military analysis, this includes: *** partnership programme with the defence industry in order to ensure that insights *** are then shared in an appropriate manner with the defence industry to advise them about how they can protect themselves; ***; and ***.

DI has previously told the Committee that it does not hold comprehensive records relating to allocations of effort on China for past years. We found that difficult to understand. DI explained that "allocation of effort is challenging [for it] to calculate given the range of intelligence capabilities and specialisms within DI, many of which cover multiple geographic areas". Notwithstanding that, we are surprised that information on allocation of effort on an area as supposedly significant as China is not readily to hand so that it can be kept under constant review.

Homeland Security Group statistics for 2020 show that:

Approximately *** staff worked on China ***.