Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to establish a commissioner for covert law enforcement in Northern Ireland that could help ensure covert surveillance techniques are only used within the law.

Oversight of the use of investigatory powers in Northern Ireland is provided by the UK-wide Investigatory Powers Commissioner.

The Commissioner’s role is to ensure that such use is necessary and proportionate and in accordance with the law. This arrangement also has the benefit of ensuring the scrutiny of these powers is consistent across the United Kingdom.