§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the draft codes of practice which relate to the use and retention of communications data as defined in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; if he has revised his estimates on the costs to industry of the retention of such data; and if he will make a statement as to why the draft code of practice which relates to retention of communications data has not yet been issued. [59265]
§ Mr. BlunkettThe codes of practice relating to the access and retention of communications data are being developed in consultation with communications providers, the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies and the Interception and Information Commissioners respectively. A draft of the access code will be laid before Parliament shortly, and a retention code will be issued for public consultation. Discussions with communications providers are forming the basis of the Government's assessment of the cost of retention.