§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone interceptions were authorised by his Department in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99 to date; and if he will make a statement. [49696]
§ Mr. StrawThe annual reports of the Commissioner appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 list the number of interception warrants issued by the Home Secretary in the course of each year. In 1996, 1,073 telecommunications warrants were issued by the Home Secretary. In 1997, the number was 1,391. During the period 1 January to 30 June this year, 816 such warrants were issued by me.