Via the Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/01/mps-too-busy-question-intelligence-agencies-snowdenhe parliamentary intelligence and security committee (ISC) has postponed questioning the intelligence agencies in front of the television cameras this week, delaying the unprecedented event until after the summer recess, because they say they are too busy focusing on the murder of Lee Rigby and revelations about GCHQ's activities.
Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, appeared to have been unaware of the postponement as he revealed at his monthly press conference that the agencies were to give evidence to the cross-party committee on Thursday. He cited the event as a sign of the agencies' commitment to public accountability.
The committee said the session had been postponed because it wanted to focus on the recent revelations about GCHQ's activities, and the intelligence agencies' failure to track the alleged murderers of Lee Rigby, who was killed outside Woolwich barracks. It did not say why it could not have pursued these issues in public with the agencies on Thursday, arguably an ideal time to question them.
Clegg said: "I cannot stress enough how important I think it that the ISC has got the new powers. Don't underestimate what a break with convention it is that you have got the heads of the intelligence agencies going to the ISC this Thursday to give televised evidence."
More at link. This story provided to show that it isn't just US oversight committees that are idle and incompetent.
