HC Deb 13 January 1997 vol 288 cc40-1W
Mr. David Hunt

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has evaluated into recent developments in the interception of communications; and what proposals he has to introduce legislation in this area. [10218]

Mr. Howard

The adequacy of legislation is kept under review in the light of developments in the interception field.

Mr. Hunt

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff, and at what grades, are deployed in undertaking the work required under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, separately identifying the work of (a) the commissioner and (b) the relevant division of his Department; and what other costs are involved in this work. [10216]

Mr. Howard

The commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 is assisted by a secretary (higher executive officer grade). Within the intelligence and security liaison unit of the Home Office, one grade 7, one higher executive officer, two executive officers, one administrative officer and one typist are engaged on casework under the 1985 Act. Members of the senior civil service are also involved in the consideration of applications. Other costs fall to the agencies requesting interception; it is not the Government's practice to give details of such costs.

Mr. Hunt

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the safeguards adopted to deal with interception of communications procedures, including the clandestine listening to telephone calls, in the Commonwealth, the Council of Europe countries and the United States of America; and if he will place such assessment in the Library together with a listing of the principal procedures in each country and the source of that information. [10432]

Mr. Howard

I have made no such assessment. Procedures concerning interception in other countries are a matter for the Governments concerned.

Mr. Hunt

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methods exist for establishing whether the police have been responsible for an unlawful interception of communications procedure. [10429]

Mr. Howard

A person who believes that his or her communications have been intercepted in the course of transmission by post or by means of a public telecommunications system may apply to the tribunal established under section 7 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 for an investigation of whether a relevant warrant has been issued and, if so, whether there has been any contravention of the Act. The investigation of an allegation that interception has taken place without the authority of a warrant is, like the investigation of other allegations of criminal offences, a matter for the police.