The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament (ISC) is the committee of Parliament with statutory responsibility for oversight of the UK Intelligence Community.
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Authority
The Committee was established under the Intelligence Services Act 1994, but its powers were reinforced in the Justice and Security Act 2013.
Remit
Under the Justice and Security Act 2013 and the accompanying Memorandum of Understanding (which can be found at Annex A in the Committee’s Annual Report 2013-2014), the ISC oversees the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of MI5, MI6, GCHQ, Defence Intelligence, the Joint Intelligence Organisation, the National Security Secretariat (NSS) and Homeland Security Group.
The Committee sets its own agenda and work programme, taking evidence from Ministers, the Heads of the intelligence and security Agencies, senior officials, experts, and academics as it considers necessary.
Membership
The Committee consists of nine Members, drawn from both Houses of Parliament and appointed by Parliament. The Chair of the Committee is elected by its Members. The Members are subject to Section 1(1)(b) of the Official Secrets Act 1989 and are routinely given access to highly classified material in carrying out their duties.
Current Inquiries
The Committee is currently conducting Inquiries into:
- International Partnerships;
- Cloud technologies; and
- national security issues relating to Iran.
News
For earlier news items, please select ‘More News’ from the bottom of this page, or ‘News’ from the navigation bar.
19 July 2023
Rt Hon. Theresa Villiers MP Recusal from ISC Iran Inquiry
The Rt Hon. Theresa Villiers MP has decided to recuse herself from the Intelligence and Security Committee’s Inquiry into national security issues relating to Iran. Ms Villiers regularly makes public statements on Iran and is mindful of the constraints that being involved in the ISC’s Iran Inquiry would place on her ability to continue to do so. Ms Villiers will therefore not be involved in any stage of the Committee's Inquiry. (Any statements Ms Villiers therefore makes on Iran will be personal, rather than as a Member of the ISC.)
09:54, 19 July 2023
13 July 2023
The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament has today published the following report 'China', and has also issued a press release:
10:35, 13 July 2023
10 July 2023
The Committee reiterates its deepest sympathies to the families of those affected by the Manchester Arena attack.
The Committee has thoroughly considered the Manchester Arena Inquiry Report Volume 3 which was issued on 2 March, and its related closed recommendations which were issued on 5 June. These raise important issues which will ensure that lessons are learned from the tragic events of 22 May 2017.
The Committee has noted the suggestion by Sir John Saunders, the Chairman of the Manchester Arena Inquiry, that the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament might conduct monitoring of his closed recommendations, and the Committee has considered whether it is the right body to do so. The Committee agrees with Sir John that it is important his recommendations must be implemented, and that an appropriate form of monitoring is essential to ensure that this happens.
In terms of monitoring Sir John's recommendations however, the Committee considers that its direct accountability to Parliament, and the constraints it operates under in terms of public reporting, mean that it cannot be transparent about its work – and this will frustrate those who are invested in this work being taken forward. The Committee has concluded therefore that, while it will seek to do all it can through the implementation of its own recommendations, it is not the right body to monitor those proposed by Sir John's Inquiry. Instead the Committee supports Sir John's suggestion that the Investigatory Powers Commissioner monitor his recommendations, or that the Inquiry team be reconvened to do so.
11:11, 10 July 2023
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