Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jeremy Wright and Lucy Frazer

Thursday 26th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[The Attorney General (Jeremy Wright)]

Communications data are an essential form of evidence used in prosecutions across the full spectrum of criminal offences, including terrorism, serious and organised crime, child sexual abuse, murder and rape. It is important for that capability to be maintained and modernised, which is why the Government have published the draft Investigatory Powers Bill.

[Lucy Frazer]

In the light of that, does the Attorney General agree that we need to continue to improve our communications data capability?

[The Attorney General]

I do agree with my hon. and learned Friend. It is important to recognise that the cases in which evidence of this kind is very significant range well beyond terrorism cases. For example, some 95% of CPS investigations of serious and organised crime involve communications data.