Debate on a motion that this House has considered the matter of the 2010-11 Annual Report from the Intelligence and Security Committee (Cm 8114). Agreed to on question. [Relevant documents: The Government's Response (Cm 8168) to the 2010-11 Annual Report from the Intelligence and Security Committee is relevant. The Justice and Security Green Paper (Cm 8194) is relevant in so far as it relates to the Intelligence and Security Committee.]

Debate on a motion that this House has considered the matter of the 2010-11 Annual Report from the Intelligence and Security Committee (Cm 8114). Agreed to on question. [Relevant documents: The Government's Response (Cm 8168) to the 2010-11 Annual Report from the Intelligence and Security Committee is relevant. The Justice...

I pay tribute to all those who work in the security and intelligence agencies for the important work they do in keeping us all safe. I also extend that tribute to the very important work that the Intelligence and Security Committee does in scrutinising those agencies. It is clear from...

I pay tribute to all those who work in the security and intelligence agencies for the important work they do in keeping us all safe. I also extend that tribute to the very important work that the Intelligence and Security Committee does in scrutinising those agencies. It is clear from...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

We have had an important and wide-ranging debate that has illustrated how important it is that the public should be confident that the Government's national security work is being robustly scrutinised. Last week the Foreign Secretary said:"““I believe it is vital that the British public and Parliament have confidence in...

We have had an important and wide-ranging debate that has illustrated how important it is that the public should be confident that the Government's national security work is being robustly scrutinised. Last week the Foreign Secretary said:"““I believe it is vital that the British public and Parliament have confidence in...

I should begin with an apology because it has been my misfortune to miss a large part of the debate owing to a prior commitment, which was on behalf of Parliament but outside the House. However, I have had the opportunity to listen to the debate and hear some very...

I should begin with an apology because it has been my misfortune to miss a large part of the debate owing to a prior commitment, which was on behalf of Parliament but outside the House. However, I have had the opportunity to listen to the debate and hear some very...

Yes. I do not think it would help our national security. I hope that satisfies my right hon. Friend. I do not know what other answer I could give to that question. In previous debates I have criticised the ISC. I do not believe, and I am hardly alone in...

Yes. I do not think it would help our national security. I hope that satisfies my right hon. Friend. I do not know what other answer I could give to that question. In previous debates I have criticised the ISC. I do not believe, and I am hardly alone in...

The Chair of the Committee mentioned that before 1994, there was no debate—or at least no acceptance and acknowledgment by the Government of the day—of the security services. Does he accept that during the 1980s some of us pressed for parliamentary scrutiny and used every opportunity in debates to say...

The Chair of the Committee mentioned that before 1994, there was no debate—or at least no acceptance and acknowledgment by the Government of the day—of the security services. Does he accept that during the 1980s some of us pressed for parliamentary scrutiny and used every opportunity in debates to say...

On operations, does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that practice in the past has been—and is likely to be in the future—for the examination of particular operations to be retrospective and that there are very good reasons for that?

On operations, does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that practice in the past has been—and is likely to be in the future—for the examination of particular operations to be retrospective and that there are very good reasons for that?

We are all nominated by the Prime Minister, but it is important to note that this House has to endorse the names of the Committee's members before the Committee is formed.

We are all nominated by the Prime Minister, but it is important to note that this House has to endorse the names of the Committee's members before the Committee is formed.

Even our worst enemies have not suggested that, as far as I am aware. I of course entirely confirm that. My final detailed point on the report relates to a part of our intelligence community that is hardly even mentioned in this House or anywhere else: Defence Intelligence. It is...

Even our worst enemies have not suggested that, as far as I am aware. I of course entirely confirm that. My final detailed point on the report relates to a part of our intelligence community that is hardly even mentioned in this House or anywhere else: Defence Intelligence. It is...

For the sake of clarity, before some reporter's pen runs away with him, will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that there was no suggestion in his remarks that UK intelligence services were responsible for the Stuxnet virus?

For the sake of clarity, before some reporter's pen runs away with him, will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that there was no suggestion in his remarks that UK intelligence services were responsible for the Stuxnet virus?

That is one of the great dilemmas that Governments have faced and, I suspect, continue to face. It is not for me to comment on what the conclusion will be, but there has been some confusion on that. My hon. Friend will be aware that Baroness Neville-Jones at one stage...

That is one of the great dilemmas that Governments have faced and, I suspect, continue to face. It is not for me to comment on what the conclusion will be, but there has been some confusion on that. My hon. Friend will be aware that Baroness Neville-Jones at one stage...

Will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that ministerial responsibility for cyber-security will be with the Cabinet Office and that that will in no way detract from the Foreign Secretary's overall responsibility for GCHQ?

Will my right hon. and learned Friend confirm that ministerial responsibility for cyber-security will be with the Cabinet Office and that that will in no way detract from the Foreign Secretary's overall responsibility for GCHQ?

There may be some truth in what my hon. Friend says, and obviously these matters must be taken on board. Given his comments, I will make the general point that we should realise that cyber technology can be a threat and an opportunity for this country and others. One need...

There may be some truth in what my hon. Friend says, and obviously these matters must be taken on board. Given his comments, I will make the general point that we should realise that cyber technology can be a threat and an opportunity for this country and others. One need...

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the situation with cyber attacks is likely to get worse, rather than better? There are clear examples around the world of such attacks significantly disabling military installations and operations, so the Government must continue to regard that as a high-level threat....

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the situation with cyber attacks is likely to get worse, rather than better? There are clear examples around the world of such attacks significantly disabling military installations and operations, so the Government must continue to regard that as a high-level threat....

I welcome what the right hon. and learned Gentleman has said about this important matter. When the Select Committee on Home Affairs has sought evidence from the head of MI5 in the past, we have had to travel to its headquarters for a private briefing, sometimes with darkened windows. I...

I welcome what the right hon. and learned Gentleman has said about this important matter. When the Select Committee on Home Affairs has sought evidence from the head of MI5 in the past, we have had to travel to its headquarters for a private briefing, sometimes with darkened windows. I...

The heads of the agencies have been travelling to the Intelligence and Security Committee to give evidence—albeit in secret, not in public—for a good number of years, so precedent is not being broken. Some thought is being given to holding public sessions, and I certainly hope that will prove possible...

The heads of the agencies have been travelling to the Intelligence and Security Committee to give evidence—albeit in secret, not in public—for a good number of years, so precedent is not being broken. Some thought is being given to holding public sessions, and I certainly hope that will prove possible...

I am privileged, as Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, to introduce this debate on not only the Committee's annual report but the work of our intelligence agencies over the past year. It has been a particularly interesting year, in which we have seen a sea change in our...

I am privileged, as Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, to introduce this debate on not only the Committee's annual report but the work of our intelligence agencies over the past year. It has been a particularly interesting year, in which we have seen a sea change in our...

Before the right hon. Gentleman moves on, he might wish to draw the House's attention to paragraph 33 of the report, which states:"““The Security Service has told the Committee that the numbers of individuals involved with the current republican terrorist groups is around half the number that were active in...

Before the right hon. Gentleman moves on, he might wish to draw the House's attention to paragraph 33 of the report, which states:"““The Security Service has told the Committee that the numbers of individuals involved with the current republican terrorist groups is around half the number that were active in...

It is, although it is also fair to say that there are degrees of involvement. Although there may be some latent support at a fairly local level for certain individuals, the number of active people who are determined on violence in pursuit of their aims is probably still fairly limited....

It is, although it is also fair to say that there are degrees of involvement. Although there may be some latent support at a fairly local level for certain individuals, the number of active people who are determined on violence in pursuit of their aims is probably still fairly limited....