asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the right hon. Member for Brent, East (Mr. Freeson) on 8 March 1982, Official Report, c. 288, what progress has been made in the establishment of new guidelines controlling the use by police and security services of bugging devices; and if he will make a statement.

The review of the current guidelines on the use of surveillance equipment by the police has not yet been completed. I will inform the House of my conclusions as soon as practicable.