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David Cameron: Intelligence agencies work within law David Cameron: Intelligence agencies work within law
(about 3 hours later)
David Cameron has insisted intelligence agencies "operate within the law", amid allegations that the data-gathering centre GCHQ circumvented the law to gain information on UK citizens.David Cameron has insisted intelligence agencies "operate within the law", amid allegations that the data-gathering centre GCHQ circumvented the law to gain information on UK citizens.
Ex-CIA worker Edward Snowden claims US agencies gathered and shared phone records and internet data.Ex-CIA worker Edward Snowden claims US agencies gathered and shared phone records and internet data.
The prime minister said UK agencies were subject to "proper scrutiny" by Parliament and did a "fantastic job".The prime minister said UK agencies were subject to "proper scrutiny" by Parliament and did a "fantastic job".
Foreign Secretary William Hague will make a statement to MPs at 16:15 BST. GCHQ is to hand a report to MPs on Tuesday, the government has confirmed.
The government has so far refused to confirm or deny claims GCHQ has had access to a US spy programme called Prism since June 2010.The government has so far refused to confirm or deny claims GCHQ has had access to a US spy programme called Prism since June 2010.
It is said to give America's National Security Agency and the FBI easy access to the systems of nine of the world's top internet companies, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo and Skype.It is said to give America's National Security Agency and the FBI easy access to the systems of nine of the world's top internet companies, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo and Skype.
All deny giving the US government access to their servers.All deny giving the US government access to their servers.
'Running commentary''Running commentary'
Speaking at an event in Essex, Mr Cameron said the UK's intelligence agencies "keep us safe", adding: "They are intelligence services that operate within the law... They are also subject to proper scrutiny by the Intelligence and Security Committee in the House of Commons.Speaking at an event in Essex, Mr Cameron said the UK's intelligence agencies "keep us safe", adding: "They are intelligence services that operate within the law... They are also subject to proper scrutiny by the Intelligence and Security Committee in the House of Commons.
"That scrutiny is important and I will make sure that it takes place.""That scrutiny is important and I will make sure that it takes place."
Asked about the claims by Mr Snowden, Mr Cameron replied: "I cannot give a running commentary on intelligence issues."Asked about the claims by Mr Snowden, Mr Cameron replied: "I cannot give a running commentary on intelligence issues."
He added: "I'm satisfied that we have intelligence agencies that do a fantastic job to keep us safe and operate within the law."He added: "I'm satisfied that we have intelligence agencies that do a fantastic job to keep us safe and operate within the law."
The chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The law is quite clear. If the British intelligence agencies are seeking to know the content of emails about people living in the United Kingdom, then they have to get authority. That means ministerial authority."The chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The law is quite clear. If the British intelligence agencies are seeking to know the content of emails about people living in the United Kingdom, then they have to get authority. That means ministerial authority."
He added: "This is a complex area."He added: "This is a complex area."
Former CIA technical worker Edward Snowden has been identified by the Guardian newspaper as the source of leaks about US surveillance programmes.Former CIA technical worker Edward Snowden has been identified by the Guardian newspaper as the source of leaks about US surveillance programmes.
GCHQ, based in Cheltenham, is said to have generated 197 intelligence reports through the system in the 12 months to May 2012 - a 137% increase on the previous year.GCHQ, based in Cheltenham, is said to have generated 197 intelligence reports through the system in the 12 months to May 2012 - a 137% increase on the previous year.
Mr Hague, the minister with responsibility for GCHQ, has said "law-abiding" UK citizens have "nothing to fear" from the UK intelligence services. 'Baseless'
'Hypocritical' In a statement to Parliament, Foreign Secretary William Hague , the minister with responsibility for GCHQ, said claims the UK had used Prism to obtain information in contravention of UK laws were "baseless".
Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander told Today: "These agencies do vital work for us week in and week out. But it's also vital that the public have confidence that they are operating in a framework of legality." The UK's information-sharing relationship with the US was "essential to the security of the country", he told MPs, had "saved many lives" and was subject to "proper statutory safeguards and controls".
Of Mr Hague's statement later, he said: "He needs to give assurances to the House about the... vital information-sharing relationship with the Unites States." "We want the British people to have confidence in the work of the intelligence agencies and their adherence to the law and our democratic values," he said.
And Conservative MP Dominic Raab said it was not Parliament's job to "blindly trust" the intelligence agencies and he was concerned that MPs and the interceptions of communications commissioner had been "kept in the dark". Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander told MPs that the British public needed to be assured that "the agencies of government are law-abiding".
Without a "watertight" legal basis for surveillance, public confidence was eroded and the UK risked being sued by victims, he said. He sought guarantees that data supplied by the US could only be accessed with the personal authorisation of the foreign secretary, or an equivalent Cabinet minister, and with the oversight of relevant watchdogs.
"We need to make sure we have a robust legal framework both for our freedom and our security," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One. Former Labour foreign secretary Jack Straw suggested the UK had the strongest legal framework for intelligence gathering in the world.
But Conservative MP Dominic Raab said it was not Parliament's job to "blindly trust" the intelligence agencies and he was concerned that MPs and the interceptions of communications commissioner had been "kept in the dark".
Without a "watertight" legal basis for surveillance, public confidence would be eroded and the UK risked being sued by victims, he said.
The BBC's Security Correspondent Frank Gardner said ministers were being "very cautious" in their comments about intelligence sharing so as not to give any advantage to terrorist suspects.
But while they had made the legal position clear, he said their responses did not address questions about the NSA's activities and what its "enormous data storage capacity" was being used for.
AuthorisedAuthorised
Prism was reportedly established in 2007 in order to provide in-depth surveillance on live communications and stored information on foreigners overseas.Prism was reportedly established in 2007 in order to provide in-depth surveillance on live communications and stored information on foreigners overseas.
The content of phone conversations - what people say to each other when they are on the phone - is protected by the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution, which forbids unreasonable searches.The content of phone conversations - what people say to each other when they are on the phone - is protected by the Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution, which forbids unreasonable searches.
However, information shared with a third party, such as phone companies, is not out of bounds.However, information shared with a third party, such as phone companies, is not out of bounds.
That means that data about phone calls - such as their timing and duration - can be scooped up by government officials.That means that data about phone calls - such as their timing and duration - can be scooped up by government officials.
Prism was authorised under changes to US surveillance laws passed under President George W Bush and renewed last year under Barack Obama.Prism was authorised under changes to US surveillance laws passed under President George W Bush and renewed last year under Barack Obama.
On Friday, Mr Obama defended the surveillance programmes as a "modest encroachment" on privacy, necessary to protect the US from terrorist attacks.On Friday, Mr Obama defended the surveillance programmes as a "modest encroachment" on privacy, necessary to protect the US from terrorist attacks.