Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will commission a judge-led public inquiry into the surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland by MI5.

MI5’s use of covert investigatory powers is subject to strong safeguards under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, and their related statutory Codes of Practice.

Robust independent oversight of these powers is provided by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner. This includes specific additional protections in respect of journalistic material and sources, as well as material subject to legal privilege.

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal is an independent judicial body that provides the right of redress to anyone who believes they have been the victim of unlawful action by a public authority using covert techniques.

For this reason, it is not necessary to conduct a public inquiry into the surveillance of journalists in Northern Ireland by MI5.