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Beckett to head security watchdog Terror focus 'hits security work'
(about 5 hours later)
Ex-foreign secretary Margaret Beckett has been chosen to head Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee. Work of the UK's intelligence services is suffering because of the focus on counter-terrorism, a report has said.
Mrs Beckett replaces fellow Labour MP Paul Murphy - who was made Wales Secretary in Gordon Brown's recent cabinet reshuffle - as chairman. Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) said that extra funding for the services may be needed.
The appointment comes as the ISC's annual report voices concern that a focus on counter-terrorism may be hitting other security commitments. The head of MI6, John Scarlett, told the committee that counter-terrorism accounted for more than half of his security service's workload.
The committee wants ministers to look at extra funding for other activities. The government said the scale of the terrorist threat meant some of the work had been "reduced but not overlooked".
The ISC is made up of senior MPs and peers chosen by the government. 'Maintain capabilities'
It oversees the work of the intelligence agencies - MI5, MI6, GCHQ and the Defence Intelligence Staff - and reports directly to the prime minister rather than to Parliament. The ISC's annual report said 200 extremist networks were currently under investigation.
Mrs Beckett left the cabinet after Mr Brown became prime minister last summer. We believe consideration may need to be given to separate, additional funding Intelligence and Security Committee
'Prioritise' In evidence, MI6 told the committee - which monitors the work of the security services - that it had "not had any choice but to prioritise" this area.
The ISC's annual report says 200 extremist networks are currently under investigation. The report said: "We are concerned that aspects of key intelligence and security work are suffering as a consequence of the focus on counter-terrorism priorities.
In evidence, the Security Service told the committee it had "not had any choice but to prioritise" this area of its work.
But the report says: "We are concerned that aspects of key intelligence and security work are suffering as a consequence of the focus on counter-terrorism priorities.
"We believe consideration may need to be given to separate, additional funding to maintain the agencies' capabilities in these areas.""We believe consideration may need to be given to separate, additional funding to maintain the agencies' capabilities in these areas."
In response, the government said: "Resources are finite and it is necessary, given the scale of the threat from international terrorism and the unique role of the agencies in countering the threat, that work on some other intelligence and security requirements has been reduced.In response, the government said: "Resources are finite and it is necessary, given the scale of the threat from international terrorism and the unique role of the agencies in countering the threat, that work on some other intelligence and security requirements has been reduced.
"But they have not been overlooked.""But they have not been overlooked."
Cabinet reshuffle
The report also expressed concern about the disruption caused by last summer's floods to the government's Cheltenham monitoring base, GCHQ.
Meanwhile, former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett has been chosen as the new chairman of the committee.
Mrs Beckett replaces fellow Labour MP Paul Murphy - who was made Wales secretary in Gordon Brown's recent cabinet reshuffle - as its head.
Mrs Beckett left the cabinet after Mr Brown became prime minister last summer.
The ISC is made up of senior MPs and peers chosen by the government.
It oversees the work of the intelligence agencies - MI5, MI6, GCHQ and the Defence Intelligence Staff - and reports directly to the prime minister rather than to Parliament.