§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which public sector organisations have applied to him to be allowed to demand Communications Data under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Acts; and if he will make a statement. [17193]
§ Mr. BlunkettWe have been approached by a number of public authorities including local authorities, the Serious Fraud Office and the Financial Services Authority. I will be considering shortly whether to seek the approval of Parliament to add them to the current list of public authorities who can access communications data under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates he has signed with respect to Section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 since coming to office; if he has renewed certificates signed by his predecessors in office; what plans he has to review the form of the certificate; and if he will make a statement. [17191]
§ Mr. BlunkettI have neither signed nor renewed any such certificates. I expect soon to have decided on a course of action in response to the determination of the National Security Panel of the Information Tribunal on the appeal by the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) against a Data Protection Act 1998 national security exemption certificate covering the Security Service.