§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in legislation will be required to permit the security service to develop its role in combating threats from terrorism and drug importers.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe Security Service Act 1989 defines the functions of the service as being the protection of national security and the safeguarding of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom against threats from overseas.
The security service may conduct investigations only into areas which satisfy one or both of these criteria. Terrorism is referred to in the Act as a particular threat to national security and therefore falls within the criteria. The scale of drugs trafficking and other types of organised crime is not such that there is a current threat to national security. The security service therefore has no role in investigating these criminal matters and, contrary to recent press allegations, is not seeking one. The Government have no plans to amend the Act to redefine the functions of the service in this respect.