Written question asked by Jim Cunningham (Labour) on Thursday, 13 June 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 July 2002. It was answered by Lord Blunkett (Labour) on Thursday, 4 July 2002 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what action is being taken to ensure that individuals are protected from invasion of privacy and personal rights when the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 is extended.

Answer: Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken to ensure that individuals are protected from invasion of privacy and personal rights when the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 is extended. [62675] Mr. Blunkett: The Government recognise the need to balance respect for personal privacy with legitimate measures to protect the public, especially in the context of rapidly developing technology. I have therefore decided to bring forward new proposals in this area in the autumn after consultation over the summer. The aim of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 is to provide greater security, clarity and regulation of these activities. First the Act is intended to ensure that: public authorities who have been added can only access communications data for one of the specified purposes in the Act; such access will have to be proportionate to what it seeks to achieve; use of the power will be subject to oversight by the Interception of Communications Commissioner; and anyone who thinks their data has been wrongly accessed will have the right to complain to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

Secondary information