The House of Lords has rejected amendments to the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill which would have introduced substantial parts of the Communications Data Bill, more commonly known as the “Snoopers’ Charter”.

The amendments were withdrawn at the request of Lord Bates, Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Home Office, who argued that including the amendments at such a late stage could jeopardise the entire Bill.

Lord Bates promised to investigate the possibility of “sharing more widely” a redrafted version of the draft Communications Data Bill, apparently written to take into account the Joint Committee’s recommendations, but which has so far been kept under wraps by the Home Office.

For more information, see: Transcript of the House of Lords debate (HL Deb 26 January 2015, vol 759, cols 32 – 75)