§ Lord Carr of Hadleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have yet received the annual report of the Intelligence and Security Committee in accordance with the Intelligence Services Act 1994.
The Lord Privy Seal (Viscount Cranborne)My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has received the first annual report of the Intelligence and Security Committee and is presenting it to Parliament today. Copies are also being placed in the Libraries of both Houses. He is grateful to the committee for the careful and thorough way in which they have carried out their work. Certain portions of their report contained material which fell within the provisions of Section 10 of the Intelligence Services Act, and which has accordingly, after consultation with the committee, been deleted from the published report.
The House will wish to be aware that, following consultations with the Leader of the Opposition and in accordance with Section 10 of the Intelligence Services Act, the Prime Minister has appointed the right honourable Lord Blaker as a member of the committee to succeed Lord Howe of Aberavon who has indicated his wish to step down from the committee. He is very grateful to Lord Howe for the part he has played in the Committee's work.