§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the investigation into transcripts of telephone taps missing from the National Criminal Intelligence Service; and how many transcripts are unaccounted for. [13405]
§ Mr. MacleanThe Director General of the National Criminal Intelligence Service invited John Stevens, formerly the chief constable of Northumbria police, to conduct an inquiry following a case in which telephone intercept material was supplied unlawfully to defence counsel. He also looked at administrative processes for handling intercept material and future safeguards. The inquiry found no evidence of corrupt practice at NCIS and all the intercept material has been accounted for. The director general has welcomed the inquiry's review of procedures for handling intercept material and all its recommendations are being taken forward.