Written question asked by Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 8 April 2014, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 28 April 2014 (named day). It was answered by Karen Bradley (Conservative) on Monday, 28 April 2014 on behalf of the Home Office.

Telecommunications: Databases

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the consequences for the UK of the decision of the European Court of Justice in Joined Cases C-293/12 and C-594/12 (Digital Rights Ireland and Seitlinger and Others); what implication that decision has for (a) enforcement of the Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations 2009 and (b) her powers to reimburse any expenses incurred by a public communications provider in complying with those Regulations.

Answer: As the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), stated to the Home Affairs Committee in answer to a question from the hon. Member on 8 April, we are considering the judgment and its implications carefully. The retention of communications data is absolutely fundamental to ensure law enforcement agencies have the powers they need to investigate crime, protect the public and ensure national security.

Secondary information