Purpose and Effect
This Section reserves national security, official secrets and special provisions for dealing with terrorism. The functions of the Security Service, the Secret Intelligence Service and the GCHQ are reserved by paragraph 2(4) of Part I of Schedule 5. It also reserves the interception of communications, but not intrusive investigative techniques or the interception of certain communications made to or by a person detained at a place of detention such as a prison or hospital.
This section was amended by article 4 of the Scotland Act 1998 (Modifications of Schedules 4 and 5) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/1749).