The two shadowy undercover agencies are currently exempted from any human rights queries.

MI6 is in charge of espionage and security relating to foreign countries and MI5 controls the same functions within Britain and the North.

The Justice and Security Bill, currently before Westminster, exempt both from investigation.

The chief human rights commissioner, Monica McWilliams, said the bill dilutes her powers.

She said national security, important as it is, should still not mean any government agency is beyond the law and her commission should not be prevented from inquiring into alleged abuses.