ISC

The UK parliamentary committee that oversees the UK intelligence community: the policy, expenditure, administration and operations of MI5, SIS (MI6) and GCHQ.

According to the committee’s annual report (2023–2025), the ISC also oversees the intelligence and security functions of the Joint Intelligence Organisation and the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office, Defence Intelligence in the Ministry of Defence and the Homeland Security Group in the Home Office. It was created by the Intelligence Services Act 1994 and reformed by the Justice and Security Act 2013.¹

The committee has nine members drawn from both Houses of Parliament. Each House appoints its members from among its own, but candidates must be nominated by the Prime Minister after consulting the Leader of the Opposition, and a minister may not be a member; the chair is chosen by the members (section 1 of the Justice and Security Act 2013).²