§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) interception warrants and (b) modifications of warrants he authorised in 1999. [122280]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeThe 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. The report of the Interception of Communications Commissioner for 1999 has not yet been published. However, as in 1998, the Commissioner Lord Nolan has agreed to release the figures requested in advance of publication. The numbers to be published are:
- (a) 1,734
- (b) 565