§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what his assessment is of the annual cost to police forces of charges levied by telecommunications companies for tracking telephone calls and e-mail correspondence; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which the payment of such charges is cost effective; [145181]
(2) what discussions he has had with telecommunications companies over the variation in charges made for tracking telephone calls and e-mail correspondence; [145185]
211W(3) what representations he has received about the level of charges made by telecommunications companies for tracking telephone calls and e-mail correspondence for law enforcement agencies; [145184]
(4) what assessment he has made of the effect on policing in Gloucestershire of the cost to the constabulary of charges levied by telecommunications companies for tracking telephone calls and e-mail correspondence; and if he will make a statement. [145180]
§ Mr. StrawInformation on the charges mentioned is not collected centrally. Agreements are in place between communication service providers (CSPs) and law enforcement agencies which take account of the fact that a requirement to provide communication data places operational and financial burdens on the CSPs.
The Government have received representations from one hon. Member about charges made to the police by CSPs for supplying data.