§ Q6. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Prime Minister what general rules exist governing the transfer of personal and confidential information between and among the Departments of his Administration; and whether he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterIn some cases, there are statutory provisions. Otherwise, it is for individual Departments to give giudance to their staff on the handling of such information.
§ Mr. HuckfieldIs the Prime Minister aware that a massive collection of personal and confidential information will come under the auspices of the Department of the Environment from those who submit themselves for means tests under the Government's proposals for fair rents? How does he expect the people who are supposed to be coming forward for means tests under the provisions of the Housing Finance Bill to do so when they pretty well have to sign away their birthright to get a means test?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot agree with that, especially when the Minister of Housing and Local Government in the previous Administration was strongly in favour of a system of rent rebates.
§ The Prime MinisterVery satisfactorily, Sir.