Spy chiefs give evidence to MPs in public for first time

Britain’s spy chiefs are to be quizzed about controversial snooping activities when they give evidence at a parliamentary committee in public for the first time.

MI6 chief Sir John Sawers, MI5 director general Andrew Parker and GCHQ director Sir Iain Lobban, will appear before the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) next month.

They will “inevitably” be questioned about classified material leaked by Edward Snowden about UK and US intelligence operations, ISC member Hazel Blears said.

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The former Cabinet minister told BBC Radio 4: “The public hearing is a chance I think for ordinary people – we live in a democracy, the agencies are accountable to the public as well as to Parliament – to actually see the heads of agencies and to actually hear them respond to what I hope will be some interesting questioning from the committee.

“Obviously, matters of current controversy will inevitably be raised but I also hope that they’ll be considered in the background of the nature of the way the threat’s changing, the rise of the internet, massive changes of technology now, which have resulted in more capabilities, but obviously also for those who want to do us harm. They have got more capabilities as well.

“So I hope that we will deal with some of those current issues but in the context of the fact that the threat to the United Kingdom remains extremely high and that the agencies are doing what they can to protect us.

“But I think the public want to know a little bit more about the detail of that. How is the technology changing? What are the implications of what is happening in Syria? What about homegrown terrorism? These are issues that are really important to people.”

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The November 7 committee will be broadcast but with a short time delay to allow anything which “might endanger national security or the safety of those working for the agencies” to be cut.

The ISC said the session would give the public an insight into the intelligence world and represents “a very significant step forward” in terms of openness and transparency”. It said in a statement: “The committee will question agency heads on their current priorities and the threats to the UK. However, since this is a public session, it will not cover details of intelligence capabilities, ongoing operations or sub judice matters.”

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