§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances GCHQ facilities are used to(a) monitor and (b) intercept communications involving United Kingdom nationals where the communication originates or terminates outside the United Kingdom. [65651]
§ Mr. StrawIt is a long-standing practice of this Government and previous Administrations not to comment on the activities of the intelligence services. The interception of communications is governed by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and overseen by the Interception of Communications Commissioner. GCHQ, like any other Government agency empowered to apply for a warrant under the Act, may intercept "external communications" (as defined by the Act) if the conditions required for the issuing of a warrant set out in Sections 5, 8 and 15 and 16 are met.