Terrorism Bill

Indeed, I appreciate that, but if my hon. Friend had perhaps heard a little more of the debate, he would know that I am genuinely seeking to get the balance right between ensuring that we have an effective procedure that can tackle the kind of terrorist material that we see on the internet and trying to ensure that the service providers are not disadvantaged. That is why I went into some detail about the level of qualifications that the officers who are engaged in this work will have. They will be accredited officers, properly trained and act as the single point of contact that currently exists in the anti-terrorism branch. They will not be simply any police constable. We are now working with the Crown Prosecution Service, the police and internet service providers on a proper protocol to ensure that the police officers who make such decisions are skilled, experienced and properly trained so that they have the specialist knowledge. I hope that this reassures my hon. Friend that the need to go to a judge in the middle of the night with such a notice is not the right level of judicial scrutiny in this process. I hope that I have been able to reassure hon. Members, but I am sure that I have not managed to persuade the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve). I genuinely believe that the Government’s proposals will make the law effective and will ensure that we tackle the real problem of the use of the internet to draw young people particularly into terrorist activity. That is a widespread and growing problem, and I am absolutely determined that we will use every method at our disposal, through technology, legislation and our law enforcement forces, to make sure that we bear down on terrorism in this country and that we tackle the people who seek to use international means and technology to draw people into terrorism and to create a climate that can increase the possibility of terrorist acts occurring in this country. Tackling such uses of the internet will be an extremely useful part of the range of the efforts that we take to reduce terrorism in this country. As I have said, I accept entirely that the provision may not eradicate the problem across the world, but that is no reason whatever for us not to do everything that we can in this country to make sure that we reduce the amount of information on terrorism and that we tackle the real danger of the use of the internet in promoting it. I therefore disagree with the amendments from the other place and— It being four hours after the commencement of proceedings on consideration of Lords amendments, Mr Deputy Speaker pursuant to Order [this day] put forthwith the Question already proposed from the Chair. The House divided: Ayes 319, Noes 255.