Written question asked by Lord Pickles (Conservative) on Thursday, 23 October 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 27 October 2008. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Thursday, 30 October 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Electronic Surveillance: Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what ground local authorities will have access to the new 12 month database of communications data; what approval process to access such data will be; and with regard to what types of offences local authorities will be able to access the data.

Answer: We have published a consultation paper on the retention of internet communications data as the UK is required to complete the transposition of the European Directive 2006/24/EC by 15 March 2009. The proposal is for service providers to retain their data for 12 months, in line with the existing provisions for mobile and fixed line telephony.Local authorities access to communications data will be unchanged. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 they can access subscriber data and billing data for the purposes of preventing and detecting crime and preventing disorder.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 481 c1251W;481 c1249W; 231025
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Electronic Surveillance: Databases
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Written questions
House of Commons; Electronic Surveillance: Databases
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects: Databases Electronic surveillance
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk