§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the operational responsibilities are of the Security Service in Northern Ireland; to whom the Security Service is accountable for its operations and activities in Northern Ireland; and what role Her Majesty's Government has in directing the operational activities of the Security Service in Northern Ireland. [103414]
§ Mr. BlunkettThe functions of the Security Service are set out in the Security Service Act 1989 as amended by the Security Service Act 1996.
Under the 1989 Act, the Director General of the Security Service controls its operations. While the Security Service acts ordinarily under the authority of the Home Secretary, it will report to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for its operations there.
The hon. Member will be aware that it is the longstanding policy of successive Governments not to comment in any way on the operational activities of the Security Service. Such information is outside of the scope of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.