HC Deb 16 March 1994 vol 239 cc700-1W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide an explanation of the phrase "national security" used in the Intelligence Services Bill; and how this term relates to the use of the term "national security" in section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

The term "national security" has been in general use for many years and is well recognised and understood in statute. It is used in both the Intelligence Services Bill and Data Protection Act 1984 in the same way as in the many other statutes in which it is included with no further definition.