§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the resources available to(a) the Surveillance Commissioner, (b) the Information Commissioner and (c) other commissioners involved in supervising the powers and operations of the home security service; and if he will make a statement. [159419]
§ Mr. BlunkettThere are no plans to increase the resources available to the Chief Surveillance Commissioner, who does not have oversight of the Security Service. Nor are there plans at present to increase the resources available to either the Intelligence Services Commissioner or the Interception of Communications Commissioner for their work relating to the Security Service.
We are increasing the resources available to the Interception Commissioner for his work in overseeing access to communication data by public authorities including the security service. I believe that all are presently, but we keep this position under review.
The Information Commissioner's remit extends to the Security Service in so far as it is a data controller under the Data Protection Act 1998. Most of the information held by the Service falls under the national security exemption of that Act or the Freedom of Information Act 2000. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional affairs and Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, informs me that there are currently no plans to provide additional resources to the Information Commissioner.