§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the current bilateral(a) treaties and (b) agreements between the United Kingdom and US Governments which include provisions relating to the interception of communications. [93073]
§ Mr. StrawThere are arrangements appropriate to the relationship which exists between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States for the purpose of our common defence. It is the long-standing practice of this Government and previous Administrations not to comment on the detail of such confidential arrangements.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place in the period 1 May 1997 to 31 December 1998 between Ministers and United States citizens concerning the interception regime operated in the United Kingdom. [93072]
§ Mr. StrawDuring the period in question, I have had discussions with the Attorney-General of the United States Government on several occasions about the interception regime operated in the United Kingdom, in particular in the context of encryption and the use of intercept product as evidence.