2 The Director-General. U.K.

(1) The operations of the Service shall continue to be under the control of a Director-General appointed by the Secretary of State.

(2) The Director-General shall be responsible for the efficiency of the Service and it shall be his duty to ensure—

(a) that there are arrangements for securing that no information is obtained by the Service except so far as necessary for the proper discharge of its functions or disclosed by it except so far as necessary for that purpose or for the purpose of [F1 the prevention or detection of] serious crime [F2 or for the purpose of any criminal proceedings]; and

(b) that the Service does not take any action to further the interests of any political party [F3 ; and

(c) that there are arrangements, agreed with [F4 the [F5 Director General of the National Crime Agency]]], for co-ordinating the activities of the Service in pursuance of section 1(4) of this Act with the activities of police forces [F6 , the [F7 National Crime Agency]] and other law enforcement agencies

.

(3) The arrangements mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above shall be such as to ensure that information in the possession of the Service is not disclosed for use in determining whether a person should be employed, or continue to be employed, by any person, or in any office or capacity, except in accordance with provisions in that behalf approved by the Secretary of State.

[F8 (3A) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (2)(a) above, the disclosure of information shall be regarded as necessary for the proper discharge of the functions of the Security Service if it consists of—

(a) the disclosure of records subject to and in accordance with the Public Records Act 1958; or

(b) the disclosure, subject to and in accordance with arrangements approved by the Secretary of State, of information to the Comptroller and Auditor General for the purposes of his functions.]

(3B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(4) The Director-General shall make an annual report on the work of the Service to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State and may at any time report to either of them on any matter relating to its work.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 2(2)(a) substituted (25.9.2000) by 2000 c. 23, s. 82(1), Sch. 4 para. 4(2) (with s. 82(3)); S.I. 2000/2543, art. 2

F2 Words in s. 2(2) inserted (15.12.1994) by 1994 c. 13, s. 11(2), Sch. 4 para. 1(1); S.I. 1994/2734, art. 2

F3 S. 2(2)(c) added (14.10.1996) by 1996 c. 35, s. 1(2); S.I. 1996/2454, art. 2

F4 Words in s. 2(2)(c) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 57(a); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10

F5 Words in s. 2(2)(c) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 35(a); S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)

F6 Words in s. 2(2)(c) substituted (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 57(b); S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10

F7 Words in s. 2(2)(c) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 35(b); S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)

F8 S. 2(3A) inserted (15.12.1994) by 1994 c. 13, s. 11(2), Sch. 4 para. 1(2); S.I. 1994/2734, art. 2