To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the proposal of the UK Government and others for a European Council Framework Decision on the retention of data processed and stored in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or data on public communications networks for the purpose of prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of crime and criminal offences including terrorism, and particularly on the proposal’s impact on (a) civil liberties and (b) electronic communications service providers in Scotland.

To ask the Scottish Executive what opportunity the Scottish Parliament will have to scrutinise the proposal of the UK Government and others for a European Council Framework Decision on the retention of data processed and stored in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or data on public communications networks for the purpose of prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of crime and criminal offences including terrorism.

To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent the proposal by the UK Government and others for a European Council Framework Decision on the retention of data processed and stored in connection with the provision of publicly available electronic communications services or data on public communications networks for the purpose of prevention, investigation, detection and prosecution of crime and criminal offences including terrorism covers (a) reserved and (b) devolved matters.

The matters contained in this draft framework decision are reserved to the UK Government.

The Scottish Executive supports the UK Government’s efforts to succeed in the fight against organised crime and terrorism and to work with other member states to deliver an area of freedom, security and justice.