Government Communications Headquarters Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Government Communications Headquarters

Lord Lucas Excerpts
Monday 10th June 2013

(11 years, 6 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Wallace of Saltaire Portrait Lord Wallace of Saltaire
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I confirm that, and congratulate the noble Lord on asking a question that did not mention the Royal Navy for the first time in some considerable period.

Lord Lucas Portrait Lord Lucas
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My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that at least one of the organisations with oversight over the security services would have it drawn to their attention if we started to get a large flow of communications content information from the United States, as opposed to communications data?

Lord Wallace of Saltaire Portrait Lord Wallace of Saltaire
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My Lords, lawyers have come in at a very early stage in this. I was briefed by FCO lawyers as well as by FCO officials this morning. Oversight is a continuing process, so any unusual change in pattern would naturally feed up towards the scrutiny and accountability process.