Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (Designation of Participating Countries) (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) Order 2008

I am most grateful to the Minister. We accept that this is a technical amendment, which is necessary in order to designate the United States of America a participating country. However, I should like one or two reassurances from the Minister. I have two quotes, and if the Minister feels that it is easier to reply in writing, I shall quite understand. The first is from a newspaper report: "““One source at the department””," of Homeland Security in America, "““said that as a result of the deal, the U.S. was likely to ask for full details on everyone visiting from Europe””." The second quote is from Barry Steinhardt, a lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union: "““The US is essentially asking the rest of the world to conform to our””—" that is, the United States’s— "““very limited notion of what’s private””." He goes on to say that, "““it provides for wide access of data which are supposed to be protected under EU law””." Those are emotive statements, especially in the light of the recent debates over the Lisbon treaty and of concern over what appears—certainly in the eyes of the public—to be the very one-sided procedure for extradition. I think that the House, and indeed the public, will be seeking reassurances on these matters, which I hope the Minister will be able to give. As I said, if that is by way of a letter, that will be perfectly acceptable to us. My other question concerns the cost to the private sector of the order. I think that it has been put at between £1.5 billion and £2.5 billion over the next 10 years. I shall be grateful if the Minister can give us further information on that.