§ Brian WhiteTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statutory investigatory powers the Department has; which ones will be superseded by use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and what plans he has for removing these legacy powers. [136119]
§ Beverley HughesImmigration officers have powers of arrest and search under the Immigration Act 1971 as amended by Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. These powers will not be superseded by the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) which provides for the regulated use by public authorities of specific118W investigatory powers including the acquisition of communications data (disclosure of information about communications). Subject to approval by Parliament of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003 the Immigration Service will use RIPA to acquire communications data.