Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the advice of Jemima Stratford QC to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drones; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green

Existing regulation and guidance, which includes the Covert Surveillance and
Property Interference Code of Practice, applies to the use of aircraft
including remotely piloted aerial vehicles. The Code provides a framework of good
practice for public authorities using covert surveillance techniques. The
Department has noted the responses by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on
Drones to the recent consultation on a revised version of the Code and intend
to lay a further draft before Parliament in due course.