§ 5. Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet Lord Diplock to discuss his reviews of telephone tapping.
§ Mr. WhitelawLord Bridge of Harwich has now taken over from Lord Diplock as judicial monitor of the arrangements for the interception of communications set out in Cmnd. 7873. I meet the judicial monitor whenever this is necessary in the course of his duties.
§ Mr. CryerGiven the incredible story of incompetence and indifference at Buckingham Palace when dealing with the Head of State, how can the Home Secretary be sure that the rules governing telephone tapping, which is a serious invasion of privacy, are followed by the police when dealing with ordinary citizens? Would it not help to break down the immunity from accountability that encourages abuse if the Bridge reports—as they are now to be called—were regularly published as a necessary element of accountability in a democratic State?
§ Mr. WhitelawI dealt with the hon. Gentleman's first point yesterday.
Lord Bridge will make his reports, as previously, to the Prime Minister, and they will be carefully considered.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceDoes the Home Secretary realise that the whole issue needs to be covered by statute law very soon? Does he intend to introduce a Bill on data protection next year? If so, can Parliament be certain that the police will not have indiscriminate access to computer-held records on ordinary citizens which cover a whole range of matters?
§ Mr. WhitelawI cannot anticipate the legislative programme for the next Session. I must ask the hon. Gentleman to be patient.