§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) of 30 October 1997,Official Report, column 861, what action is taken in circumstances where a member of the public who is subject to telephone interception makes a telephone call to an hon. Member; and if he will make a statement. [43604]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 3 June 1998]: The Secretary of State may issue a warrant only if he is satisfied that it is necessary for one of the purposes in the Interception of Communications Act 1985; namely, in the interests of national security, for the purpose of preventing or detecting serious crime or for the purpose of safeguarding the economic well-being of the United Kingdom. It is then for the responsible Service to decide how to respond to any communications lawfully intercepted under the warrant, having regard to the safeguards provided in section 6 of the Act.