§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what notification his Department receives in respect of the interception of telephone lines by Scottish police forces other than those carried out by the security services under the terms of the Interception of Communications Act 1985; and on how many occasions in the last twelve months Scottish police forces have intercepted telephone lines of suspected criminals. [5129]
§ Mr. McLeishTelephone communications may be intercepted only under the personal authority of a Secretary of State. Where an address in Scotland is concerned, it would normally by me right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland whose authority is sought. Information about the number of occasions telephone interception took place is not available in the form requested. But, in 1996, 228 new telephone warrants were issued.