David Cameron: Intelligence agencies work within law 10 June 2013 Last updated at 13:35 David Cameron said UK agencies were subject to "proper scrutiny" by Parliament David Cameron has insisted intelligence agencies "operate within the law," amid allegations that the data-gathering centre GCHQ circumvented the law to gain information on UK citizens. Ex-CIA worker Edward Snowden claims US agencies gathered and shared phone records and internet data. The prime minister said UK agencies were subject to "proper scrutiny" by Parliament and did a "fantastic job." Foreign Secretary William Hague will make a statement to MPs at 16:15 BST. The government has so far refused to confirm or deny claims GCHQ has had access to a US spy programme called Prism since June 2010. It is said to give America's National Security Agency and the FBI easy access to the systems of nine of the world's top internet companies, including Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, Yahoo and Skype. Running commentary Speaking at an event in Essex, Mr Cameron said the UK's intelligence agencies "keep us safe," adding: "They are intelligence services that operate within the law... They are also subject to proper scrutiny by the Intelligence and Security Committee in the House of Commons. That scrutiny is important and I will make sure that it takes place. Asked about the claims by Mr Snowden, Mr Cameron replied: "I cannot give a running commentary on intelligence issues." He added: "I'm satisfied that we have intelligence agencies that do a fantastic job to keep us safe and operate within the law." The chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, Conservative MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The law is quite clear. If the British intelligence agencies are seeking to know the content of emails about people living in the United Kingdom, then they have to get authority. That means ministerial authority. He added: "This is a complex area." Former CIA technical worker Edward Snowden has been identified by the Guardian newspaper as the source of leaks about US surveillance programmes. GCHQ, based in Cheltenham, is said to have generated 197 intelligence reports through the system in the 12 months to May 2012 - a 137% increase on the previous year. Mr Hague, the minister with responsibility for GCHQ, has said "law-abiding" UK citizens have "nothing to fear" from the UK intelligence services. Hypocritical Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander told Today: "These agencies do vital work for us week in and week out. But it's also vital that the public have confidence that they are operating in a framework of legality. We need to make sure we have a robust legal framework both for our freedom and our security End Quote Dominic Raab Conservative MP Of Mr Hague's statement later, he said: "He needs to give assurances to the House about the... vital information-sharing relationship with the Unites States." And Conservative MP Dominic Raab said it was not Parliament's job to "blindly trust" the intelligence agencies and he was concerned that MPs and the interceptions of communications commissioner had been "kept in the dark." Without a "watertight" legal basis for surveillance, public confidence was eroded and the UK risked being sued by victims, he said. "We need to make sure we have a robust legal framework both for our freedom and our security," he told BBC Radio 4's The World at One. Authorised Prism was authorised under changes to US surveillance laws passed under President George W Bush and renewed last year under Barack Obama.