Interception of Communications (Admissibility of Evidence) Bill [HL]

My Lords, I naturally respect the noble Baroness’s views, but I do not recollect from Sir Ian’s speech that he made that distinction. Whether he did or did not, he merely provokes the opportunity for debate. On the status of the interception commissioner, the noble Lord, Lord Carlile, and those who are privy to information that influences their views, I am afraid that I take a very simplistic parliamentary view. Within proper constraints of security of information, it is ultimately for Parliament to decide those matters and not those who my noble friend Lord Robertson called the unique and very tight intelligence community—brave, sophisticated and vital as it is. Finally, the question of whether Parliament should debate this issue arises. If those who have spoken in favour of the present system are right, they may prove to be right in subsequent debates. If change is to be made, I am sure that the House would consider it with great prudence and considerable reserve. But, at the very least, if we are to accept that the rules of the game have changed and if we are to acknowledge that the campaign against terrorism demands action by all, above all it demands at least consideration by this Parliament.