HL Deb 17 March 2000 vol 610 cc233-4WA
The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill is based on the International User Requirements for Interception. [HL1481]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill is not based upon the International User Requirements annexed to the European Union Council Resolution of 17 January 1995 on the lawful interception of telecommunications.

However, Clause 12 of the Bill enables the Secretary of State to specify in secondary legislation what constitutes a reasonable interception capability for providers of public telecommunications services. The Home Office is currently consulting industry on the nature of the proposed secondary legislation. As indicated in the Government's consultation document "Interception of Communications in the United Kingdom" (CM 4368), the proposed secondary legislation will take full account of international standards including the International User Requirement.