§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has held with other European countries on co-operation for tapping on request of (i) land lines, (ii) cellular telephones and (iii) electronic mail; what is the intended role of Europol; which countries outside the European Union are involved; what discussions he has had with the United States Government on this issue; and if he will make a statement. [76300]
§ Mr. Straw[holding answer 12 March 1999]: A working group operating under the European Union Justice and Home Affairs Council is currently considering a draft Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance which contains proposals for co-operation on the interception of telecommunications. The text of the draft Convention does not distinguish between the kinds of telecommunications mentioned in the Question. The German Presidency has also proposed a draft Council Resolution on the lawful interception of new technologies such as the Internet and satellite communications. The latest texts of these proposals have been submitted to the European Scrutiny Committees for their consideration. Copies are in the Library. This matter has been discussed at formal meetings of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, in which I and other Home Office Ministers have participated, and informally with other European Union Interior Ministers.
I am not aware of any proposal for Europol to be involved in co-operation on interception matters between member states.
The draft Convention and Council Resolution apply only to the European Union. Ministers have not discussed them with the United States Government.