---

Home Office

Answer

Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce powers to permit (a) the storage of communications data relating to all telephone calls and telecommunications and (b) access to this information by law enforcement agencies and the security services; what representations he has received relating to this issue; and if he will make a statement. [141749] Mr. Straw: My Department has received representations from the National Criminal Intelligence Service on behalf of the law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies underlining the importance of communications data to their investigations, and arguing for mandatory retention of such data. We will consider these representations but the Government have no current plans to legislate. Law enforcement, security and intelligence agencies access communications data now in a number of different ways including the Data Protection Act 1998. Part I, Chapter II of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000 puts in place statutory controls, for the first time, governing access to such data. Access must be properly authorised, for specific purposes only, and is subject to independent oversight. The relevant RIPA provisions will be commenced next year.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

359 c254-5W;359 c252-3W; 141749

Session

2000-01

Subjects

Disclosure of information Data protection Data transmission Intelligence services Privacy Telecommunications Regulation Storage Telephones

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk