§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the MI5 budget is currently spent on counter-subversion.[15679]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 17 November 1997]In the current financial year, the Security Service expects to spend less than 1 per cent. of its budget on residual work on counter subversion.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the present terms of reference for MI5.[15720]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 17 November 1997]The functions of the Security Service are prescribed in the Security Service Act 1989, as amended by the Security Service Act 1996. They are, in summary, as follows:
- (i) the protection of national security;
- (ii) safeguarding the economic well being of the United Kingdom against threats posed by the actions or intentions of persons outside the British Islands;
- (iii) acting in support of the activities of police forces and other law enforcement agencies in the prevention and detection of serious crime.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are employed in reviewing and destroying files now deemed inappropriate to be held by MI5.[15696]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 17 November 1997]The review of Security Service files is an integral part of the duties of records management staff within the Security Service. Successive Governments have deemed it inappropriate to provide a breakdown of staff allocated to these tasks. Total staff at the Security Service at 4 November 1997 was 1,860.5 (full-time equivalent).
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances MI5 uses persons external to MI5 to carrying out tapping or other covert surveillance tasks.[15699]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 17 November 1997]It has been the policy of successive Governments not to discuss operational matters relating to the work of the security and intelligence services.