HC Deb 30 July 1998 vol 317 cc537-8W
Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what legal advice he receives before signing warrants authorising security surveillance; and from whom. [53825]

Mr. Robin Cook

The procedures involved in submitting warrants for approval were set out in paragraph 5 of the Interception of Communications Act Commissioner's report for 1996. This makes it clear that the Secretary of State considers applications, after scrutiny by senior officials, together with supporting documentation and the comments of advisers. This process incorporates in every case, advice from legal advisers of the appropriate agency.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many warrants authorising security surveillance he has signed since 1 May 1997. [53827]

Mr. Robin Cook

It has been the practice of successive Interception of Communications Act Commissioners not to publish the numbers of interception warrants issued by the Foreign Secretary, as they have taken the view that it would be against the public interest to do so. Similarly the Intelligence Services Act Commissioner has stated that he does not consider it in the public interest to disclose the numbers of warrants issued under Section 5 of the Interception of Communications Act 1994. The Government endorse the Commissioners' views.

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