UK spy bosses to be publicly cross-examined for the first time

Chief spies from United Kingdom's three main intelligence agencies (what are they?) were crossexamined by the Intelligence and Security Committee in parliament on Thursday, over their widescale public surveillance programme. This was the first time the heads of Britain's major spy organisations have been questioned publicly. GCHQ director Sir Iain Lobban, MI5 director general Andrew Parker and MI6 chief Sir John Sawers were cross-examined. A UK government spokesman called this increase in transparency a step forward in terms of democracy(is this is necessary quote, what were they examined about?). The Intelligence and Security Committee said that the session would be "a very significant step forward in terms of the openness..." Lobban, Parker and Sawers will be asked about the massive surveillance program, as recently revealed by Edward Snowden. Snowden's leaks revealed that the agencies have been tapping into the internet communications of everyday people, as well as having bugged the phone-lines of various world leaders. Part of the cross-examination focused on the ethics of these practices, and whether surveillance laws need to be updated to account for the digital nature of modern communication. The agency chiefs will also be questioned about Snowden and related issues like cyber security. (needs evidence do you have a quote?) Several precautions are being taken to reduce risk to Britain's national security. Information about any field operations of the intelligence agencies will not be disclosed during the questioning and televised footage will be delayed to facilitate security checks.