§ 12. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Minister of State for Defence to whom access to the personal files of Servicemen and other personnel is permitted; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Lord BalnielAccess to personal files is permitted only to authorised persons engaged in personnel management in the Ministry of Defence and, in the case of some civilians, the Civil Service Department, for whom access is necessary to enable them to carry out their official duties.
§ Mr. HuckfieldSince these files will soon be put on computers, is there a code of conduct covering the computer personnel who will be handling the files? Will the categories of access which the hon. Gentleman has just enunciated include representatives of South African defence and security forces in this country?
§ Lord BalnielI think my answer is absolutely clear on access to personal files. The rules of confidentiality imposed in the Ministry of Defence demand that no unauthorised person is given access to personal files. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to put down a further Question about a code of conduct, I will try to answer it in more detail.