§ Lord Cuckneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the annual report of the commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 will be laid before the House.
Viscount CranborneA copy of Lord Nolan's annual report for 1995 has been laid before the House today in accordance with Section 8(7) of the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The confidential annex to the report has been excluded from that copy in accordance with section 8(8) of the 1985 Act. I am grateful to the commissioner for his work in reviewing the issue of warrants and in providing assistance to the tribunal as provided for in the Act. I note in particular the commissioner's view that the interception of both postal and telecommunications remains both an effective and an essential operation in the interests of national security and the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, and the prevention and detection of serious crime.