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| House of Lords considers emergency data laws | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The House of Lords is debating the government's emergency legislation giving the security services access to people's phone and internet records. | |
| The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill passed all stages in the Commons on Tuesday - a process that usually takes weeks or months. | The Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Bill passed all stages in the Commons on Tuesday - a process that usually takes weeks or months. |
| Conservative MP David Davis said the timetable was "entirely improper". | Conservative MP David Davis said the timetable was "entirely improper". |
| But MPs approved both the timetable and the bill itself in separate votes. | But MPs approved both the timetable and the bill itself in separate votes. |
| Peers are now expected to complete all stages of the bill's consideration on Wednesday and Thursday. | |
| There are well-established procedures for fast-tracking bills when Parliament believes it is necessary to do so. | There are well-established procedures for fast-tracking bills when Parliament believes it is necessary to do so. |
| The legislation is supported by the three main parties, but opposed by civil liberties campaigners. | The legislation is 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. | They were drafted in response to a European Court of Justice ruling in April. |
| Home Secretary Theresa May has 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. | Home Secretary Theresa May has 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. | "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. | "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 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." | "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. | 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 shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons: "Parliament does need to act this week so that existing investigations and capabilities are not jeopardised over the next few months." | Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons: "Parliament does need to act this week so that existing investigations and capabilities are not jeopardised over the next few months." |
| But Labour MP Tom Watson has written to party leader Ed Miliband of his "huge personal disappointment" at Labour's backing of the measures. | But Labour MP Tom Watson has written to party leader Ed Miliband of his "huge personal disappointment" at Labour'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." |