(1) The Intelligence Services Act 1994 (c. 13) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1) of section 6 (persons under whose hand a warrant to act within the British Islands may be issued), after paragraph (c) insert "or

(d) in an urgent case where the Secretary of State has expressly authorised the issue of warrants in accordance with this paragraph by specified senior officials and a statement of that fact is endorsed on the warrant, under the hand of any of the specified officials."

(3) After that subsection insert-

"(1A) But a warrant issued in accordance with subsection (1)(d) may authorise the taking of an action only if the action is an action in relation to property which, immediately before the issue of the warrant, would, if done outside the British Islands, have been authorised by virtue of an authorisation under section 7 that was in force at that time."

(1B) A senior official who issues a warrant in accordance with subsection (1)(d) must inform the Secretary of State about the issue of the warrant as soon as practicable after issuing it."

(4) In subsection (2)(b) of that section (duration of warrants issued by senior officials), for "second" substitute "fifth".

(5) In subsection (6)(b) of section 7 (duration of authorisations to act outside the British Islands that are issued by senior officials), for "second" substitute "fifth".

(6) After subsection (9) of that section insert-