§ 12. Mr. CranTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce measures to regulate the manufacture and sale of electronic surveillance devices.
§ Mr. RentonNone, for the reasons given in my response to the debate on electronic surveillance devices initiated by my hon. Friend on 13 March.
§ Mr. CranWill my hon. Friend take this opportunity to condemn the Tandy Corporation stores group, which is currently marketing an electronic scanner device that facilitates eavesdropping on other people's telephone conversations? That has ramifications for security, the police and individuals in business. Does he agree that that is a gross invasion of privacy, and is he prepared to say what the Government will do about it?
§ Mr. RentonI am well aware of my hon. Friend's deep concern about the subject, but I am not aware of the equipment to which he refers. I ask him not to overlook the 1985 legislation, which dealt with the interception of the public telecommunications system. If the use of the electronic scanner involves such interception, criminal offences and penalties, as set up by the Interception of Communications Act 1985, will come into play.