To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with his EU counterparts on the operation of the proposed investigatory powers in the Lisbon Treaty. (189114)

[holding answer 26 February 2008]: Both my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I, as well as our ministerial colleagues in the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, have regular discussions with our EU counterparts on a wide range of EU Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) issues, including the JHA provisions of the Lisbon treaty.

The UK has secured an across-the-board opt-in on all JHA issues. We will not opt-in to any proposal that is not in the UK national interest.