Written question asked by James Brokenshire (Conservative) on Tuesday, 22 July 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 October 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 October 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Departmental Data Protection

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings Ministers and officials in her Department have had with telecommunications and internet service providers on the establishment of a national database to store telecommunications and internet traffic data and connected information.

Answer: Home Office officials have had a number of meetings with telecommunications and Internet Service Providers to inform the Government's consideration of work to modernise our national interception capabilities in the light of changes to communications technology.Our ability to lawfully intercept communications and obtain communications data is critical to combating the threat posed by terrorism and in tackling serious and organised crime such as child sex abuse, kidnap, murder and drug related crime.Proposals are still under development, and when finalised will be presented to Parliament.

Secondary information