We were promised consultation on the Interception Modernisation Programme (IMP) by early in 2009, but as far as I can see this hasn't happened yet. Of course, in that time, we've seen considerable discussion of communication interception technologies (such as those devised and proposed by Phorm for commercial purposes) and the data retention directive emanating from the EC.
Now, The Register reports that developments in eavesdropping capacity are moving ahead (Spy chiefs size up net snoop gear):
The security minister has confirmed officials are considering installing technology that could enable on-demand wiretapping of all communications passing over the internet by the intelligence services and law enforcement.
Lord West told Parliament on Monday that civil servants working on the Interception Modernisation Programme (IMP) were considering how Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) equipment "might support the lawful interception of communications and separately the lawful acquisition of communications data".
It's thought that "...officials are considering a network of DPI probes inside the UK internet and telecoms infrastructure that could [...] monitor everything in each data packet passing its location in the network." It's been estimated that the IMP would command a hefty bill of around £12bn (which I suppose is chickenfeed compared with bailing out a few dodgy banks) - most of this might go on obtaining and maintaining data by dpi techniques.
Truly, we are sleepwalking into a totalitarian database state.