MPs rubber-stamped the government's fast-tracked Data Retention and Investigatory Powers bill (Drip) in Parliament late last night.

Only 49 politicos opposed it, while 436 MPs approved the planned law, which the Tory-led Coalition has said was needed to "plug the holes" in its legislation.

Home Secretary Theresa May has said that the UK's current data law remained valid, despite a recent ruling in Europe's highest court that deemed it to be incompatible with the 28 member states' Data Retention Directive because it clashed with privacy and human rights' rules.

But she has lobbied for swift action in Parliament to put any "legal uncertainty" expressed by foreign companies who process data in Britain "beyond doubt".

The Drip bill gained cross-party support last Thursday, when it was tabled by May.

It is now being scrutinised in the House of Lords and is expected to be passed into law tomorrow, just days ahead of Parliament's summer recess. ®

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