David Norris (Independent)

I thank the Minister for her clear and cogent replies. It is always a pleasure to deal with a Minister who is on top of her or his brief. I am sure I will be asked whether I intend to press the amendment. I do not. However, I wish to explore one issue. I am horrified to learn that, as the Minister has let slip, at least one employee of the Department was sitting outside someone's apartment at 7 a.m. snooping. That is an appalling thing. It is a shocking waste of money and an invasion of privacy. I find it absolutely revolting. I hope the practice stops at once.

I also hope that ghastly little snoop, or Peeping Tom or Thomasina, was not paid overtime, because it was outside office hours. What was the motivation for sitting outside in a car in such a manner? It is horrible. We are a mixed society. I wonder if this was a person who had relocated from eastern Europe who had been formerly employed by the Stasi. It sounds dreadful to me. Could the Minister provide more information? Are there many such people around?