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Rules that prevent the security services from snooping on MPs’ communications do apply to Welsh Assembly members, Prime Minister David Cameron has confirmed.

He has assured presiding officer Rosemary Butler the Wilson Doctrine – the convention that is meant to prohibit organisations like GCHQ from spying on MPs’ emails and calls from constituents – also applies to the Assembly.

A tribunal earlier revealed the Wilson Doctrine has never applied to the Assembly and has no legal force in any case – prompting uproar from AMs.

Mr Cameron’s letter to Ms Butler said that, from now on, “the safeguards for all parliamentarians will be the same”.

He said the doctrine remains in force and that the PM would be consulted should there ever be a proposal to target any UK parliamentarian under a warrant issued by a Secretary of State.

“This applies to members of the House of Commons, members of the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly Members, the Welsh Assembly and UK members of the European Parliament,” he wrote.

More: Is GCHQ spying on Wales' AMs? Carwyn Jones demands answers over claims UK spooks changed the rules

(Image: Barry Batchelor/PA Wire)

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Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: “It’s not acceptable for Assembly Member correspondence with constituents to be unprotected and we are extremely heartened to see the Prime Minister’s clarification.

“Many of these cases are often extremely sensitive and the Wilson Doctrine should apply to devolved administrations.”

In the summer First Minister Carwyn Jones demanded answers from Downing Street over claims UK spies had the power to eavesdrop on AMs.

He wrote to Mr Cameron after a report claimed the UK’s monitoring body GCHQ had altered guidelines to enable it to monitor communications involving AMs, Scotland’s MSPs and members of Northern Ireland assembly.

A tribunal later went further, revealing that the policy had never been extended to AMs.

More: Lists of websites that anyone in the UK has visited will be stored for a year under proposed legislation

"Confidentiality must never be jeopardised"

Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams previously said: “People need to trust that when they contact their Assembly Member they can do so securely.

“We deal with private and confidential issues on behalf of our constituencies. That must never be jeopardised.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Government said they had also received a letter from the Prime Minister which they would consider.