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Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 9 February 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 February 2000. It was answered by Jack Straw (Labour) on Monday, 14 February 2000 on behalf of the Home Office.


Home Office

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how long, on average, he has taken to scrutinise each warrant issued under the Interception of Communications Act 1985.
Answer

Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long, on average, he has taken to scrutinise each warrant issued under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. [110041] Mr. Straw: I consider very carefully each application for a warrant submitted to me under the Interception of Communications Act 1985. The average time taken for this scrutiny, depends on the complexity of the application. An average would not be meaningful. The Interception of Communications Commissioner, currently Lord Nolan, stated in his annual report for 1998 that he had found no case where I had issued or renewed a warrant without adequate justification.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
344 c412W; 110041
Session
1999-00
Subjects
Applications Intelligence services Surveillance Telecommunications Interception warrants
Legislation
Interception of Communications Act 1985
Contains statistics
Yes