HL Deb 20 June 1972 vol 332 cc146-7

2.54 p.m.

LORD AVEBURY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will issue instructions to all Government Departments holding personal information about individuals, forbidding the disclosure of any of this information on receipt of a telephone call from a person purporting to have the right of access to it, but always to offer to call back so that the bona fides of the inquirer can be verified; and whether they will issue a circular to local authorities advising them to take similar action.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY (LORD ABERDARE)

My Lords, rules to combat dishonest telephone inquiries were introduced last year in those Departments which did not already have them. They provide for checks such as the noble Lord refers to in his Question, and they appear to have been effective. We will, however, continue to watch the situation and will take any further action required. I have no evidence to suggest that local authorities need advice from the Government on this matter. They are responsible bodies, long accustomed to handling personal and confidential information.

LORD AVEBURY

My Lords, does the noble Lord recall that when the Prime Minister made a Statement on June 17, following the previous revelations in the Guardian, he said that the procedure I am suggesting would be adopted whenever an inquirier could not be satisfactorily identified. In view of the fact that the latest article in the Guardian refers to investigations conducted by Scotland Yard as recently as late last year, is there not some indication that wrongful inquirers are still able to obtain the information? Will the Government shortly make a Statement about the recommendation of the Crowther Committee, made as long ago as March of last year, that a credit commissioner should be established with the function, among other things, of policing and withdrawing licences, wherever necessary, from credit rating agencies?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I am well aware of what my right honourable friend the Prime Minister said, and that these rules have been enforced in all Departments. It is also true that police inquiries are still in progress, but I am afraid I cannot comment any further on them. I will certainly consider the noble Lord's question about the Crowther Committee.