§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) of 9 July 1998,Official Report, column 588, what factors underlie the trends in the numbers of warrants approved; and if he will make a statement. [50932]
§ Mr. StrawI refer the hon. Member to the Annual Report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner for 1996 (Cm 3678) in which, at paragraph 10, he gives an explanation for the increase in the number of interception warrants issued. The Commissioner's report for 1997 will be published shortly.