UK Parliament / Open data

Investigatory Powers Bill

Proceeding contribution from Lucy Frazer (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 15 March 2016. It occurred during Debate on bills on Investigatory Powers Bill.

I am sorry to backtrack slightly, but I have just looked up the provision relating to “economic well-being”, which is fairly qualified. Clause 18(2) ties economic well-being to

“the interests of national security”.

However, it also states that a warrant will be necessary

“in the interests of the economic well-being of the United Kingdom so far as those interests are also relevant to the interests of national security”.

That provision is further qualified by subsection (5), which states that a warrant will be issued only

“if it is considered necessary…for the purpose of gathering evidence for use in…legal proceedings.”

Subsection (4) refers to

“information relating to the acts or intentions of persons outside the British Islands.”

It is clear that the position is extremely limited.

Let me add that, as a barrister who has presented a number of cases to judges, I believe that judges who look at legislation every day are perfectly adequate to the task of considering these principles.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
607 c834 
Session
2015-16
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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