§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy in relation to information derived from interception of communications of United Kingdom citizens where that has been undertaken by foreign powers, and where Her Majesty's Government's policy would not have allowed such an interception to have been initiated by any of the security and intelligence agencies. [116902]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 30 March 2000]: The Interception of Communications Acts make clear that the interception of communications on a public telecommunications network in the United Kingdom may not lawfully be carried out without a warrant signed by a Secretary of State. These arrangements will be enhanced by the provisions in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill, now in Standing Committee.
It would be unacceptable for our Security and Intelligence Agencies to ask foreign agencies to undertake on their behalf interception which our agencies could not lawfully carry out themselves. They do not do this.