Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to publish regular transparency reports on the number of encryption-related demands her Department makes to (a) Apple and (b) other technology companies.

The Home Office does not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any notices. This has been the longstanding position of successive UK Governments for reasons of national security.

The UK has a longstanding position of protecting people’s privacy whilst also ensuring action can be taken against child sexual abusers and terrorists.