Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

CCTV Cameras: Ministerial Offices

Thursday 8 July 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Clive Efford asked about the authority for installing CCTV in ministerial offices and who is notified of such installations.
  • Clive Efford inquired about access to surveillance and overall government security in light of recent events.
  • The response indicated that the permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office and the head of the Government Security Group are examining these issues.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Clive Efford Lab Eltham and Chislehurst
Crime & Law Enforcement Parliamentary Procedure Standards & Ethics
Context

The issue arose from a scandal involving sensitive information, highlighting concerns about surveillance security within the Government.

Question

Which Minister is responsible for authorising the installation of CCTV cameras in ministerial offices; and who receives notification of the installation of those cameras. This issue came to light due to sensitive information leaks, raising questions about access to such surveillance and government security.

Answer from Michael Gove

The placement of security cameras in Departments is a matter for each individual Department. The hon. Gentleman raises an important and serious issue. The permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office and the head of the Government Security Group are looking at precisely this question because, as the hon. Gentleman quite rightly points out, it has a bearing on the security of Government business, and indeed on the possibility of malicious actors, abroad or elsewhere, who may wish to use information garnered in that way to work against the interests of all our citizens.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific Minister responsible for authorising CCTV installations was not identified. The notification process upon installation was also not clarified.

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Q2 Clive Efford Lab Eltham and Chislehurst
Community Security Democracy & Elections
Context

The issue of CCTV installation in ministerial offices arose from a scandal involving sensitive information leaks, highlighting concerns about surveillance security within the Government.

Question

Due to recent events, this question addresses who has access to surveillance and the overall security of government operations. When can we expect an official response from the government detailing these issues?

Answer from Michael Gove

The hon. Gentleman raises an important and serious issue. The permanent secretary at the Cabinet Office and the head of the Government Security Group are looking at precisely this question because, as the hon. Gentleman quite rightly points out, it has a bearing on the security of Government business, and indeed on the possibility of malicious actors, abroad or elsewhere, who may wish to use information garnered in that way to work against the interests of all our citizens.

Partly answered

Not addressed: A specific timeline for an official response was not provided. The questioner's request for a detailed explanation about what has been going on was not directly addressed with concrete actions or commitments.

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