§ Mr. Frank CookTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been made to the interception of communications tribunal challenging his Department's authorisation to intercept the communications of individuals and organisations during the period to date from 1985; how many of these applications have resulted in quashing of the relevant authorisation, destruction of copies of materials intercepted under the authorisations concerned and payment of financial compensation; on average, how long it has taken for the tribunal to consider and reach an outcome on individual applications; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardThe number of applications received by the tribunal in each year is as follows:644W
Year Number of applications received 1986/871 41 1987 32 1988 30 1989 49 1990 59 1991 58 1992 45 1993 41 1April 1986 to April 1987. On no occasion has the tribunal concluded that there has been a contravention of sections 2 to 5 of the Interception of Communication Act 1985.
In 1993 the average time taken to complete a tribunal investigation was eight weeks.