Communications Data and Interception — Statement

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 12:03 pm on 10 July 2014.

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Photo of Lord Armstrong of Ilminster Lord Armstrong of Ilminster Crossbench 12:03, 10 July 2014

My Lords, I was a member of the Joint Committee which scrutinised the draft communications data Bill. I am sure that all members of that committee would attach great importance to restoring the position that we thought we were in before this. For that reason, I, and I think many colleagues on the Cross Benches, will support the Bill. The sunset clause which has been described will make it necessary to review communications data legislation very early in the new Parliament. I hope that the scrutiny given to it will then bear fruit because I think the result was a good Bill which balanced the essential needs of civil liberty and privacy against the Government’s first duty to protect the security and safety of the citizen.