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Cuts fears for secret agencies Cuts fears for secret agencies
(about 9 hours later)
The government has said the security services face "difficult choices" amid fears of impending spending cuts.The government has said the security services face "difficult choices" amid fears of impending spending cuts.
The Intelligence and Security Committee said MI5 and MI6 could suffer real-term cuts because of the financial crisis.The Intelligence and Security Committee said MI5 and MI6 could suffer real-term cuts because of the financial crisis.
The committee's annual report also defends its own investigations into the mistreatment of a former detainee.The committee's annual report also defends its own investigations into the mistreatment of a former detainee.
It said officials had given "no convincing explanation" for missing critical documents relating to the US's treatment of Binyam Mohamed in 2002.It said officials had given "no convincing explanation" for missing critical documents relating to the US's treatment of Binyam Mohamed in 2002.
The committee oversees the work of MI5, MI6 and the Government Communications Headquarters which works with the other bodies to monitor threats. The committee reports directly to the prime minister, rather than Parliament, and its report is partially censored.The committee oversees the work of MI5, MI6 and the Government Communications Headquarters which works with the other bodies to monitor threats. The committee reports directly to the prime minister, rather than Parliament, and its report is partially censored.
The government currently spends almost £2bn on all intelligence and security operations. But in its annual report, generally covering the year 2008-2009, the committee said that the outlook was now "very different" because of the state of public finances.The government currently spends almost £2bn on all intelligence and security operations. But in its annual report, generally covering the year 2008-2009, the committee said that the outlook was now "very different" because of the state of public finances.
"The committee considers it essential that the agencies are able to consolidate the gains they have been able to achieve in recent years in terms of resources and capability."The committee considers it essential that the agencies are able to consolidate the gains they have been able to achieve in recent years in terms of resources and capability.
"We would be concerned if the agencies were to suffer real-term cuts in the short or medium term.""We would be concerned if the agencies were to suffer real-term cuts in the short or medium term."
In its response to the warning, the government said: "The government recognises the current delivery pressures on the agencies… and the impact of the pace of change in technology.In its response to the warning, the government said: "The government recognises the current delivery pressures on the agencies… and the impact of the pace of change in technology.
"These, and other pressures, will require the agencies to make significant investments in order to maintain their capabilities and consolidate the recent developments."These, and other pressures, will require the agencies to make significant investments in order to maintain their capabilities and consolidate the recent developments.
"In the current financial climate, however, it is likely that this will mean some difficult choices ahead.""In the current financial climate, however, it is likely that this will mean some difficult choices ahead."
Binyam affairBinyam affair
Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal ordered the government to reveal what security officials knew about the ill-treatment of Binyam Mohamed, an Ethiopian-born British resident who was held by US agents in Pakistan in 2002.Earlier this year, the Court of Appeal ordered the government to reveal what security officials knew about the ill-treatment of Binyam Mohamed, an Ethiopian-born British resident who was held by US agents in Pakistan in 2002.
MI6 CAMERA ON EBAY The committee's annual report confirms a story published by The Sun newspaper in 2008. It revealed that a camera sold on eBay came with a memory card holding MI6 documents.MI6 CAMERA ON EBAY The committee's annual report confirms a story published by The Sun newspaper in 2008. It revealed that a camera sold on eBay came with a memory card holding MI6 documents.
The member of the public who bought the camera voluntarily alerted the police when they realised that the memory card contained "highly classified" photographs and documents.The member of the public who bought the camera voluntarily alerted the police when they realised that the memory card contained "highly classified" photographs and documents.
The full details of the investigation are censored - but it appears the memory stick went missing from an MI6 "station" in an unknown location in 2004. It had been used to move documents between computers because officers did not like using old-style floppy disks. They had then forgotten what was on the memory stick in a "genuine mistake". Security procedures have been tightened, the report concludes. The full details of the investigation are censored - but it appears the memory stick went missing from an MI6 "station" in an unknown location in 2004. It had been used to move documents between computers because officers did not like using old-style floppy disks. They had then forgotten what was on the memory stick in a "genuine mistake". Security procedures have been tightened, the report concludes. class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/8563501.stm">A snapshot of spies
The judgement rejected claims from the security services that they did not know about Mr Mohamed's ill-treatment, an assertion originally made to the Intelligence and Security Committee.The judgement rejected claims from the security services that they did not know about Mr Mohamed's ill-treatment, an assertion originally made to the Intelligence and Security Committee.
"One of the issues arising from the Mr Mohamed case is the fact that relevant documentation was overlooked," the committee said."One of the issues arising from the Mr Mohamed case is the fact that relevant documentation was overlooked," the committee said.
It revealed that MI5's chief Jonathan Evans later wrote to the committee to say that he could not "fully explain" why the committee had not known the full picture from the beginning.It revealed that MI5's chief Jonathan Evans later wrote to the committee to say that he could not "fully explain" why the committee had not known the full picture from the beginning.
"We regret that neither the Security Service nor the Secret Intelligence Service identified the relevant documentation in response to Committee requests or in support of evidence given to us by their respective Heads during our original rendition inquiry."We regret that neither the Security Service nor the Secret Intelligence Service identified the relevant documentation in response to Committee requests or in support of evidence given to us by their respective Heads during our original rendition inquiry.
"There is no convincing explanation as to why this information was not made available to this Committee. While we do not believe that this was a deliberate attempt to deceive us, it highlights fundamental problems with the record-keeping systems and processes of both agencies.""There is no convincing explanation as to why this information was not made available to this Committee. While we do not believe that this was a deliberate attempt to deceive us, it highlights fundamental problems with the record-keeping systems and processes of both agencies."
Missing laptopsMissing laptops
The report also reveals a "previously cavalier" attitude which led to GCHQ not being able to account for 35 of its laptops, three of which held top secret information.The report also reveals a "previously cavalier" attitude which led to GCHQ not being able to account for 35 of its laptops, three of which held top secret information.
Laptops had been handed out to staff as needed, including shipping them out to British personnel in warzones. But there had not been "sufficiently robust" procedures to work out where every machine was at any given time.Laptops had been handed out to staff as needed, including shipping them out to British personnel in warzones. But there had not been "sufficiently robust" procedures to work out where every machine was at any given time.
"The committee considers that this formerly cavalier attitude towards valuable and sensitive assets was unacceptable. GCHQ must ensure that it controls, tracks and monitors its equipment effectively."The committee considers that this formerly cavalier attitude towards valuable and sensitive assets was unacceptable. GCHQ must ensure that it controls, tracks and monitors its equipment effectively.
"Now that proper processes have been introduced, we trust that this problem will not arise again.""Now that proper processes have been introduced, we trust that this problem will not arise again."