To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have made under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 to (i) undertake directed surveillance, (ii) use covert human intelligence sources, (iii) acquire communications data and (iv) undertake intrusive surveillance in the last 24 months. (221970)

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s written ministerial statement on 22 July 2008, Official Report, columns 110-11WS. The Government’s approach is to neither confirm nor deny the extent to which use is made of these powers. The Chief Surveillance Commissioner and Interception of Communications Commissioner does however provide statistics of all covert activity authorised under Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) in their annual reports, which were laid before both Houses of Parliament on 22 July 2008.