Cabinet
UK
11 October 2013 Last updated at 15:40
Clegg and Cable disagree on Guardian Snowden leaks
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and his cabinet colleague Vince Cable appear at odds about the Guardian's disclosure of secret surveillance.
Mr Cable said the newspaper performed a "very considerable public service" by publishing details of documents leaked by Edward Snowden.
But Mr Clegg reaffirmed his belief it was "not good at all" and said the information could "help terrorists".
Downing Street said the security services' review system works well.
A spokesman, however, said the prime minister is ready to listen to ideas for improving the system.
He was speaking as Mr Cable also called for "proper political oversight of the intelligence services".
Earlier, Sir David Omand, a UK security expert and former No 10 advisor described the leaks by Mr Snowden as the "most catastrophic loss to British intelligence ever".
'Good' system already
In May, Mr Snowden leaked information to the Guardian about mass surveillance programmes such as the US National Security Agency's Prism and GCHQ's Tempora operations.
The Guardian has defended its decision to publish documents leaked by the former US intelligence worker, who was granted asylum in Russia, and has vowed to publish more.
Mr Cable told BBC Radio 4' Today programme: "I think the Guardian has done a very considerable public service.
"I think Mr Snowden's contribution is two-fold. One is a positive one - the whistleblowing - the other is more worrying which is a large amount of genuinely important intelligence material does seem to have been passed across.
"We do need to have proper political oversight of the intelligence services and arguably we haven't until now."
But Mr Clegg told the BBC: "My view is that publishing information, technical information which can help terrorists work out how to do harm to us, of course, that is not good at all.
"But of course there is a legitimate, wider debate, an ongoing
11 October 2013 Last updated at 15:40
Clegg and Cable disagree on Guardian Snowden leaks
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and his cabinet colleague Vince Cable appear at odds about the Guardian's disclosure of secret surveillance.
Mr Cable said the newspaper performed a "very considerable public service" by publishing details of documents leaked by Edward Snowden.
But Mr Clegg reaffirmed his belief it was "not good at all" and said the information could "help terrorists".
Downing Street said the security services' review system works well.
A spokesman, however, said the prime minister is ready to listen to ideas for improving the system.
He was speaking as Mr Cable also called for "proper political oversight of the intelligence services".
Earlier, Sir David Omand, a UK security expert and former No 10 advisor described the leaks by Mr Snowden as the "most catastrophic loss to British intelligence ever".
'Good' system already
In May, Mr Snowden leaked information to the Guardian about mass surveillance programmes such as the US National Security Agency's Prism and GCHQ's Tempora operations.
The Guardian has defended its decision to publish documents leaked by the former US intelligence worker, who was granted asylum in Russia, and has vowed to publish more.
Mr Cable told BBC Radio 4' Today programme: "I think the Guardian has done a very considerable public service.
"I think Mr Snowden's contribution is two-fold. One is a positive one - the whistleblowing - the other is more worrying which is a large amount of genuinely important intelligence material does seem to have been passed across.
"We do need to have proper political oversight of the intelligence services and arguably we haven't until now."
But Mr Clegg told the BBC: "My view is that publishing information, technical information which can help terrorists work out how to do harm to us, of course, that is not good at all.
"But of course there is a legitimate, wider debate, an ongoing