Prime Minister (): The Intelligence and
Security Committee of Parliament has today laid before Parliament
a report covering the work of the Committee between August 2021
and March 2022. The 2021-2022 Annual Report demonstrates the
wide-ranging work of the Committee across a number of important
issues. Whilst there have been changes in Government between the
final drafting and publication of this report, I reiterate the
Government’s gratitude to the Committee for its continued
independent oversight and scrutiny of the UK Intelligence
Community, and I look forward to working together.
The membership of the Committee has changed during the period
covered by the report, and I would like to thank the Rt Hon.
and the Rt Hon.
for their work on the
Committee, and welcome the new members, and the Rt Hon. Sir MP into the role.
The Government continues to support the Committee on its ongoing
Inquiries on International Partnerships, China,
Cloud Technologies, and Iran, and looks forward
to seeing the conclusions of the Committee’s subsequent reports.
The Government reiterates its thanks to the Committee for its
thorough Inquiry and detailed report on Extreme Right-Wing
Terrorism, published on 13 July 2022, and will respond
formally in due course.
The Government values the scrutiny the Committee provides through
their Inquiries, and this oversight is vital in ensuring the
public can have confidence that our Agencies are operating in
full accordance with the law. Protecting the operational
capabilities of the Agencies and wider Intelligence Community to
ensure the safety and security of our nation remains a critical
priority for the Government. We will continue to engage
constructively with the Committee to ensure their effective
public oversight, in line with their powers as set out in
statute, while balancing scrutiny and accountability with the
need to protect our operating capabilities.
The Government considers the current Memorandum of Understanding
with the Committee to be sufficient to enable the Committee to
conduct their statutory oversight duties to provide effective
scrutiny and robust oversight of the Agencies and wider
Intelligence Community. The Government notes the Committee’s
comments regarding the provision of sensitive information to
Parliamentary Select Committees. There is existing guidance
establishing that classification is not a reason for Government
to withhold information from Parliamentary Committees and there
is an agreed process in place to provide sensitive information to
any Committee as required.
I would like to again thank the Committee for their work, and I
look forward to working with them as they continue their vital
oversight duties.
