§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about GCHQ staff at Menwith Hill station intercepting domestic and international telephone calls.
§ Mr. HowardNone.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warrants he has issued in each year since 1992, to date, under the Interception of Communications Act 1985; what duration of interception each warrant specified; and how many warrants are in force at present.
§ Mr. HowardI refer the hon. Member to the annexes to the reports of the Interception of Communications Commissioner for 1992 and 1993, Cm 2173 and Cm 2522, copies of which are in the Library. Under section 4 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985, a warrant is issued for a period of two months. It may lapse at the end of that period or it may be cancelled before the two months have elapsed or it may be renewed for a further period. It is not the Government's practice to publish figures for warrants in force at particular times other than in the commissioner's reports.