Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to contribute to an international framework for the sharing of communications data; and if she will make a statement.

The UK and United States Governments have begun considering a framework under which US-based communication service providers could disclose data directly for serious criminal and counter terrorism investigations, in response to a warrant requesting the content of communications, and with notices requiring the disclosure of communications data.

This builds on the work of the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Intelligence and Law Enforcement Data Sharing; the recommendation of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation; and the recommendations of the Joint Committee on the draft Investigatory Powers Bill, that the UK develop a framework for accessing data across jurisdictions.