Proposed Directive (Information Systems)

Charlie Elphicke Excerpts

Thursday 3rd February 2011 Commons Chamber

[James Brokenshire]

I am very grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s question, which transcends this directive, which is a Title V measure, as contrasted with the third pillar measures that are subject to the potential block opt-out in 2014. I hesitate to go into the technicalities, but we have clearly opted in to the directive, so it falls within the Title V base rather than the third pillar base. It was a technical question, and I am sorry for that rather technical response.

[Charlie Elphicke (Dover) (Con)]

In Dover, we see human trafficking and all too often the evil perpetrated by international gangs in the physical sphere. We should sign up to directives only when we get information-sharing and international assistance, because crime knows no borders, but can the Minister reassure the House that there will be no mission creep from cybercrime to the snooping that we have seen under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000?

[James Brokenshire]

My hon. Friend makes a very important point, and, in striking the right balance, we approach those issues with the rights of the individual’s freedoms and liberties very much at the forefront of this Government’s mind. We believe that the directive is important and will add value, but we will approach those issues with liberty and freedom at the forefront of our mind.