NEWS FROM THE CELTIC LEAGUE
PRISM: THE UNITED KINGDOM FO ARE RELUCTANT TO COMMENT
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FO) are not to keen to comment on the ongoing controversy surrounding the involvement of the UK in the US National Security Agency internet surveillance programme.
The League wrote to British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, in June querying the situation.
See link:
UK facilities at Menworth Hill (England), Bude (Cornwall) and the `super snoops' HQ at GCHQ (Cheltenham) are all involved in the PRISM project.
In their reply to the League, which is polite but uninformative, the appropriately named National Security Directorate of the FO said:
Thank you for your letter dated 9 June 2013 to the Foreign Secretary about information sharing between the UK and US Governments. I have been asked to reply.
It is the longstanding policy of successive British Governments not to comment in detail on issues relating to intelligence or national security. This has been reconfirmed in recent days, including by the Prime Minister.
I would however like to draw your attention to the statement made by the Foreign Secretary to Parliament on 10 June. Whilst not commenting in detail the Foreign Secretary set out in general terms the legal and policy framework and the safeguards in place for oversight and scrutiny of the intelligence agencies and their work, including a reformed Intelligence & Security Committee of Parliament which, following passage of the Justice & Security Act, now has additional powers. For ease of reference I attach a copy of the statement.
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
06/07/13
For comment or clarification on this news item in the first instance contact:
General Secretary, Celtic League:
gensec@celticleague.net
The General Secretary will determine the appropriate branch or General Council Officer to respond to your query.
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The Celtic League has branches in the six Celtic Countries. It works to promote cooperation between these countries and campaigns on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters. It highlights human rights abuse, monitors all military activity and focuses on socio-economic issues
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