127.Subsection (4) defines “authorised purposes”, which are the reasons which determine the extent of distribution and disclosure allowed under subsection (2) and the reasons for which intercepted material may be retained rather than being destroyed under subsection (3).
128.Subsection (5) requires that intercepted material and related communications data are stored in a secure manner for as long as they are retained.
129.Subsections (6) and (7) apply where possession of intercepted material or related communications data has been surrendered to any authorities of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom. Possession may be surrendered in this way where an interception warrant has been issued for the purpose of complying with a request under an international mutual assistance agreement designated under Section 1(4). For example, where such a request results in the provision of intercept material by the communication service provider to the competent authorities of another country in real-time, the material will not, at any point, be under the control of an intercepting agency in the United Kingdom.
130.For these reasons, the Secretary of State will be required to make such arrangements (if any) corresponding to subsections (2) and (3) as he thinks fit. The Secretary of State will also be required to ensure, to such extent (if any) as he thinks fit, that restrictions are in force preventing the disclosure in any proceedings outside the United Kingdom which could not be made in the United Kingdom by virtue of Section 17 (the exclusion of intercept material from legal proceedings).
Commentary on Sections “Copy” is defined in subsection (8).