Intelligence And Security Committee Of Parliament Annual Report 2012 2013

The Committee looked at key findings on the performance of the intelligence Agencies, the Agencies assessment of the threat, counter terrorism, cyber security, amongst others. It noted that it had been a particularly demanding year for the Agencies especially with regard to the Olympic and Paralympic Games which represented the largest intelligence and security challenge ever faced in peacetime.While the Agencies' efforts to keep the UK safe remain impressive, the Committee does have a number of concerns. The most significant is with regard to their collaborative savings programme, which must secure savings and efficiencies during the Spending Review period and it noted there has not been much improvement this year. The Committee also considered the passage of the Justice and Security Act 2013 through Parliament, the reforms in the Act will increase the power of the ISC to oversee the work of the UK intelligence community and many of the proposed reforms came from the Committee itself. These reforms will need to be resourced if the new ISC of Parliament is to be funded properly and if the changes are to increase accountability and lead to improved oversight of the UK intelligence community. Although not covered in the Annual Report, the Committee has taken evidence from GCHQ on the US PRISM programme and in particular the allegations that they have circumvented UK law. The Committee has also started an investigation into events surrounding the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich on 22 May