Answered questions

In response to questions from two MPs the UK Government said on 20 Oct 2004 that "that no UK law enforcement agencies were involved", this is taken from Hansard

Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which UK law enforcement agencies were involved in the seizure of computer disks containing material published by Indymedia from the London offices of Rackspace. [192111]

Caroline Flint [holding answer 18 October 2004]: I can confirm that no UK law enforcement agencies were involved in the matter referred to in the question posed by the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam.

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what powers, and acting under what information, officials of his Department seized web services belonging to Indymedia; and if he will make a statement. [192814]

Caroline Flint: I can confirm that no UK law enforcement agencies were involved in the matter referred to in the question posed by my hon. Friend. In the circumstances I do not therefore believe that it is necessary for me to make a statement.

And on 27 Oct 2004 in they answered a question from John McDonnell:

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from foreign governments with regard to the seizure of computer equipment from the independent news agency Indymedia on 7 October. [193714]

Caroline Flint: The Secretary of State did not receive any representations from foreign governments in this matter.

Richard Allan asked this further question which was answered on 2 Nov 2004:

Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with US law enforcement agencies concerning the seizure of material from UK-based internet hosting providers; and if he will make a statement. [191627]

Caroline Flint: I can confirm that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has had no discussions in regards to the matter referred to in the question posed by the hon. Member. In the circumstances I do not therefore believe that it is necessary for me to make a statement.

In a letter to Glenda Jackson MP Caroline Flint has said:

Unfortunately, I am not in a position to comment on this particular matter, but I can provide general information. It is standard Home Office policy neither to confirm nor deny the existance or receipt of a mutual legal assistance request. However, where the UK has received a valid request, we will seek to execute it within the framework of our domestic law. This will include being provided with sufficient evidence to justify the actions sought.

John McDonnell had a question answered on 3 Nov 2004:

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what (a) grounds and (b) legal authority the web servers of the news agency Indymedia were seized on 7 October. [193709]

Caroline Flint: I can only confirm that no UK law enforcement agencies were involved in the matter. I am not at liberty to discuss the specific case in more detail.

David Taylor had a question answered on the 3rd Nov 2004:

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation concerning the activities of UK-based customers of the US company Rackspace; and if he will make a statement. [193230]

Caroline Flint: The Secretary of State did not receive any representations from the Federal Bureau of Investigations in this matter. In the circumstances I do not therefore believe that it is necessary for me to make a statement.

Richard Allan has the following question answered on the 8th Nov 2004:

Mr. Allan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether prior notification was received by his Department concerning the seizure of the Indymedia servers on 7 October. [194455]

Mr. Blunkett [holding answer 28 October 2004]: I can confirm that the Home Office received no prior notification in relation to this matter.

Unanswered questions

A question from John McDonnell was never properly answered:

John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): On 7 October, under the authority of the mutual legal assistance treaty and, we believe, at the instigation of the FBI, agents visited the offices of Indymedia and removed its computer servers. Indymedia is an international news agency that has extensively covered investigations into the war and the Bush and Berlusconi regimes. May we have a statement next week to explainon what authority the action was taken, what representations foreign Governments made and the justification for the action?

Mr. Hain: I am not aware of the details of the matter but the Home Secretary will have noted my hon. Friend's points.

These questions from John McDonnell have not been answered:

John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what correspondence his Department had with foreign agencies prior to the seizure of web servers from the office of Rackspace; from which agencies correspondence was received; and what authorisations were granted to these foreign agencies. (195833)

John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington): To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether foreign agencies are entitled to raid UK premises (a) with and (b) without his Department's authorisation. (195834)

Petition

26 MPs have signed the following petition:

'this house expresses deep concern at the seizing of web servers belonging to he independent media organisation Indymedia; request that the Home Secretary explains under what authority their wholly independent news service was prevented from functioning; and expresses its disquiet at this attack on freedom of speech via the internet'.