Explanatory Notes

Justice and Security Act 2013

2013 CHAPTER 18

25 April 2013

Commentary on Sections

Part 1: Oversight of intelligence and security activities

Section 3: Reports of the ISC

59.Subsections (1) and (2) require the ISC to make an annual report to Parliament on the discharge of its functions and enable it to make such other reports as it considers appropriate concerning any aspect of its functions. The present ISC makes its reports only to the Prime Minister.

60.Subsection (4) requires the ISC to exclude any matter from a report to Parliament if the Prime Minister, after consultation with the ISC, considers that the matter would be prejudicial to the continued discharge of the functions of the Agencies or the functions of any of the other bodies whose activities the ISC oversees by virtue of section 2(2).

61.Subsection (5) states the report must contain a statement as to whether any matter has been excluded from the report.

62.Subsection (7) states that the ISC may report to the Prime Minister in relation to matters which would be excluded by virtue of subsection (4) if the report were made to Parliament.