About the Committee
The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) was established by the Intelligence Services Act 1994 to examine the policy, administration and expenditure of the Security Service, Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), and the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). The Committee has developed its oversight remit, with the Government's agreement, to include examination of intelligence-related elements of the Cabinet Office including: the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC); the Assessments Staff; and the Intelligence, Security and Resilience Group. The Committee also takes evidence from the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS), part of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), which assists the Committee in respect of work within the Committee's remit.
The Prime Minister appoints the ISC Members after considering nominations from Parliament and consulting with the Leader of the Opposition. The Committee reports directly to the Prime Minister, and through him to Parliament, by the publication of the Committee's reports.
The Members are subject to Section 1(1)(b) of the Official Secrets Act 1989 and have access to highly classified material in carrying out their duties. The Committee takes evidence from Cabinet Ministers and senior officials – all of which is used to formulate its reports.
Recent Announcements
The Committee's most recent announcements are displayed below. For earlier announcements, or to see more details/attachments, please select 'News Archive' from the navigation bar.
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5 February 2013
The Intelligence and Security Committee has published its Report into the use of communications data by the intelligence and security Agencies; a copy is available here. It was published by means of a Written Ministerial Statement by the Prime Minister. The Committee has also issued the attached press release. |
Posted 5 Feb 2013 03:11 by ISC Admin
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11 December 2012
The Intelligence and Security Committee has completed its inquiry into the use of communications data by the intelligence and security Agencies. A full report containing classified material has been sent to the Prime Minister, and the Committee intends to publish as much of this as possible within the next few weeks. In the meantime, and to coincide with the report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee that has been conducting pre-legislative scrutiny on the Government's draft Communications Data Bill, the ISC is today publishing the conclusions of its investigation. |
Posted 11 Dec 2012 00:51 by ISC Admin
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12 July 2012
The Intelligence and Security Committee’s Annual Report for 2011-2012
was laid before Parliament today by the Prime Minister. The Committee
has issued the attached Press Release. The Report can be found here. The Government's formal response is expected to be published in the autumn. |
Posted 12 Jul 2012 01:44 by ISC Admin
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14 June 2012
Following the publication of the Government's draft Communications Data Bill earlier today, the Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP, has issued the following statement: “The Government has today published a draft
Communications Data Bill which aims to update the current legislation that
allows public bodies – including the intelligence and security Agencies and the
police – to access information relating to communications data. The Bill will now be subject to
pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of Parliament. Given the importance of communications data
to the work undertaken by the intelligence Agencies, the ISC has begun its own
investigation into this area. We will take
evidence and examine the rationale behind the proposals and how rigorous the safeguards
are to ensure the privacy of individuals.”
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Posted 14 Jun 2012 04:46 by ISC Admin
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27 March 2012
The Chairman of the ISC, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, has issued the attached statement in relation to the Government's Green Paper on Justice and Security on behalf of the Committee. |
Posted 27 Mar 2012 04:46 by ISC Admin
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