To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has (a) spent and (b) allocated to spend on consultancy and related work in connection with the establishment of a national database to store telecommunications and internet traffic data and connected information. (222646)

The Government have been considering options for modernising our national interception capabilities in the light of changes to communications technology.

Our ability to lawfully intercept communications and obtain communications data is critical to combating the threat posed by terrorism and in tackling serious and organised crime such as child sex abuse, kidnap, murder and drug related crime.

The Government have not yet decided on a definitive proposal on how to modernise these capabilities. Consideration of options is under way.

When the Government do bring forward policy proposals, they will be notified to Parliament in the proper way, with associated information on financial implications.