This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28305309

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Data laws to be rushed through House of Commons Emergency data laws 'entirely improper', says MP David Davis
(about 7 hours later)
Emergency legislation giving the security services access to people's phone and internet records is set to be rushed through the House of Commons. Government plans to rush through emergency legislation giving the security services access to people's phone and internet records have been criticised in the Commons.
The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill will be debated and voted on by MPs, before moving to the House of Lords tomorrow. The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill is set to complete its passage through the lower chamber on Tuesday, before moving to the House of Lords on Wednesday.
The plans are supported by the three main parties but opposed by civil liberties campaigners. Conservative MP David Davis said the timetable was "entirely improper".
They were drafted in response to a European Court of Justice ruling. But MPs approved it in a vote.
Court ruling The government won a large majority of 387 on its proposed timetable, as MPs agreed by 436 votes to 49 to complete consideration of the bill in one day.
A bill's passage through the Commons usually takes a matter of weeks or months, although there are well-established procedures for fast-tracking bills when MPs believe that it is necessary to do so.
'Democratic banditry'
The plans are supported by the three main parties, but opposed by civil liberties campaigners.
They were drafted in response to a European Court of Justice ruling in April.
Home Secretary Theresa May said: "This bill merely preserves the status quo. It does not extend or create any new powers, rights to access or obligations on communications companies that go beyond those that already exist.
"It does not address the same problems or replicate the draft communications data bill published in 2012.
"We do still face a decline in our ability to obtain the communications data we need caused by the use of modern technology... but that is not what we are considering today.
"If we delay we face the appalling prospect police operations will go dark, that trails will go cold, that terrorist plots will go undetected.
"If that happens, innocent lives may be lost."
But she said the government would accept a Labour proposal for reports every six months by the Interception of Communications Commissioner on how the new law is working.
Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons that her party would support the "sticking plaster" bill but called for a much wider debate on the balance between safety and civil liberties.
She said: "This is not the way that this kind of legislation should be done. Let's be clear, the last-minute nature of it does undermine trust in the government's intentions but also in the vital work the police and agencies need to do.
"But I also have no doubt this legislation is needed and that we cannot delay it until the autumn.
"Parliament does need to act this week so that existing investigations and capabilities are not jeopardised over the next few months."
Mr Davis, a former contender for the leadership of the Conservative Party, blamed disagreements between his party and the Lib Dems for the delayed response to the ruling.
"My understanding is there was an argument inside government between the two halves of the coalition and that argument has gone on for three months. So what the coalition cannot decide in three months this House has to decide in one day.
"This seems to me entirely improper because the role of Parliament - we have three roles.
"One is to scrutinise legislation, one is to prevent unintended consequences, and one is to defend the freedom and liberty of our constituents.
"This undermines all three and we should oppose this motion."
Labour MPs also criticised the government for attempting to rush through the laws, with former election campaign chief Tom Watson describing it as an "insult" and likening it to "democratic banditry resonant of a rogue state".
Veteran Labour MP David Winnick, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "I consider this to be an outright abuse of parliamentary procedure.
"Even if one is in favour of what the Home Secretary intends to do, to do so in the manner in which it is intended, to pass all stages in one go, surely makes a farce of our responsibilities as MPs.
"When one considers the issues involved, how can one justify saying in effect that every stage of this bill must go through by 10pm?"
But former Labour home secretary Jack Straw said he would give Conservative Home Secretary Theresa May the "benefit of the doubt" over the legislation and told MPs: "I've been in the position of having to bring forward emergency legislation. It is never easy.
"I have often thought there is an inverse relationship between the extravagance of language used and the strength or otherwise of the argument made.
"No case has been made as to why this legislation should not be dealt with today, nor arguments in all the briefings we have had that suggest for a second substantively why and how this legislation goes beyond what everybody assumed to be the state of the law before the European Court of Justice judgement."
'Antidote to paedophilia'
Unveiling the measures last week in a joint news conference with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Prime Minister David Cameron said it was about maintaining existing capabilities - not introducing new "snooping" laws.Unveiling the measures last week in a joint news conference with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Prime Minister David Cameron said it was about maintaining existing capabilities - not introducing new "snooping" laws.
The government said it was forced to act after the European court struck down an EU directive in April requiring phone and internet companies to retain communications data on the grounds that it infringed human rights.The government said it was forced to act after the European court struck down an EU directive in April requiring phone and internet companies to retain communications data on the grounds that it infringed human rights.
A deal to rush through the measures was agreed by Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband last week.A deal to rush through the measures was agreed by Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband last week.
But campaign group Liberty said it was about "snooping on everyone".But campaign group Liberty said it was about "snooping on everyone".
'Disproportionate'
Director Shami Chakrabarti also criticised the lack of scrutiny of the bill, saying "Parliament is being shown contempt".Director Shami Chakrabarti also criticised the lack of scrutiny of the bill, saying "Parliament is being shown contempt".
She added: "I appreciate that this data can be vital in serious criminal investigations, but what's been going on increasingly is that because it's possible to capture more and more of everybody's data, the government is building a bigger and bigger haystack.She added: "I appreciate that this data can be vital in serious criminal investigations, but what's been going on increasingly is that because it's possible to capture more and more of everybody's data, the government is building a bigger and bigger haystack.
"It's disproportionate and Parliament should have had more than three days to look at such an important issue.""It's disproportionate and Parliament should have had more than three days to look at such an important issue."
The final Commons vote is expected at 22:00 BST after an extended sitting.The final Commons vote is expected at 22:00 BST after an extended sitting.
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said the Opposition would support the bill but that amendments would be needed.
She said: "We agree that legislation is needed to make sure that the police and security services don't lose existing access under warrant to information they need to fight crime and keep our country safe."
Labour MP Tom Watson has tabled amendments that would mean the legislation expired at the end of 2014.
Mr Watson said he had the backing of former Tory leadership contender David Davis, as well as more than 15 other MPs.
In a letter to Labour leader Ed Milband, Mr Watson wrote of his "huge personal disappointment" at the party's backing of the measures.In a letter to Labour leader Ed Milband, Mr Watson wrote of his "huge personal disappointment" at the party's backing of the measures.
He added: "Far from scrutinising the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill, we seem to have helped generate the panic needed to rush this important bill through under controversial emergency procedures, and the myth needed to present it as the antidote to paedophilia."He added: "Far from scrutinising the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill, we seem to have helped generate the panic needed to rush this important bill through under controversial emergency procedures, and the myth needed to present it as the antidote to paedophilia."