Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office's ability to effectively oversee the Intelligence Services.

The Investigatory Powers Commissioner (IPC) recently published its annual report for 2018. The report includes comprehensive data on the IPC office’s structures and processes for overseeing the Intelligence Services.

It also includes specific chapters on each of the main UK intelligence agencies. The Prime Minister commended this report to both Houses on 5 March.

The report demonstrates the high quality of oversight of our intelligence and security agencies. The Home Office maintains regular contact with the IPC and his office at Ministerial and official level to ensure that they are resourced and equipped to carry out its statutory duties.