§ 9 Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the work of the United Kingdom intelligence services overseas referred to in the Intelligence and Security Committee's annual report 1996. [18304]
§ Mr. RifkindIt is the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to comment on matters connected to the intelligence services.
§ Mr. CohenWas the Committee correct in criticising the intelligence services? Who provides the services' direction and objectives? Are they still obsessed with Russian spies and facilitating arms deals, when they should be tackling the flood of drugs entering the country and helping those resisting tyrants such as Saddam Hussein? Who seriously checks whether they give value for money?
§ Mr. RifkindThe intelligence services operate in respect of any action that could be a threat to the security of the country and do not confine themselves to one foreign state. They act under guidelines laid down by the Government. We supported the creation of a Committee of the House to provide some supervision for the first time; the hon. Gentleman might have acknowledged that fact.