HL Deb 22 November 1989 vol 513 cc135-6WA
Lord Brougham and Vaux

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When they expect to implement the Security Service Act 1989.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

The Security Service Act will come into force on 18th December 1989. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary made an order, published today, to bring the Act into full effect on that date. The Act provides for the appointment of a commissioner and a tribunal. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has decided to appoint Lord Justice Stuart-Smith to be commissioner. The members of the tribunal will be Mr. Justice Simon Brown (president); Sheriff John McInnes (vice-president); and Sir Richard Gaskell. My right honourable friends the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary are grateful that the commissioner and members of the tribunal have agreed to undertake these important new tasks. We welcome the implementation of this legislation which for the first time puts the security service on a statutory basis and which provides an avenue for the independent consideration of complaints against the service.