§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether staff at GCHQ complied with a request from the US National 687W Security Agency to assist with a surveillance operation on members of the UN Security Council in January 2003; [157402]
(2) whether a memorandum was sent to GCHQ by the US National Security Agency asking for assistance in the surveillance of UN Security Council delegations. [157403]
§ Mr. StrawIt is the well-established and long-standing practice of successive Governments not to comment on details of the intelligence relationship between the UK and US.
§ Mr. GerrardTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether(a) written and (b) oral assurances were given to staff at GCHQ that action to assist with surveillance of UN Security Council delegations would be legal. [157404]
§ Mr. StrawIt is the well-established and long-standing practice of successive governments not to respond to speculation about alleged operational activities by the UK security and intelligence services. However. I can provide reassurance that they work entirely within a legal framework which complies with the European Convention on Human Rights and are subject to very rigorous oversight both by Parliamentarians and senior members of the judiciary as provided by statute. Training in the awareness of these legalities is mandatory for all GCHQ operational staff. The Director of GCHQ and I take our responsibilities for GCHQ's compliance with its legal obligations very seriously indeed.