Echelon Interception System (Hansard, 4 February 2002)

HC Deb 04 February 2002 vol 379 c767W 767W

§ Norman Baker
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Parliament report of the Temporary Committee on the Echelon interception system. [32634]

§ Mr. Straw
In January 2001, as Home Secretary, I briefed a delegation from the European Parliament Temporary Committee on the legislation underpinning the work of the UK's intelligence agencies, most notably the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000. The report seeks to address a difficult subject, but does not fully reflect the safeguards in place in the UK under RIPA, which ensure compliance with the European convention on human rights.