Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Home Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Lord Cryer Excerpts
Monday 9th July 2012

(12 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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I agree with my hon. Friend that the ID card scheme was disproportionate and intrusive, and a waste of public expenditure. Our proposals for communications data are critical to support for essential day-to-day police operations. The alternatives—covert human intelligence sources, directed surveillance and undercover officers—are more expensive, more intrusive and less effective.

Lord Cryer Portrait John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab)
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What assessment has the Minister made of the potential ability of terrorists to find their way around the provisions of the Bill?

James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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The whole point of the Bill is that it provides flexibility. The key aspect of it is that it allows co-operation and collaboration with internet service providers to ensure that we respond to the changing nature of criminal operations. Criminals are changing their tactics, and the legislation needs to move with them.