§ 16. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Employment what computers are used in his Department; for what they are used; and where they are located.
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkMy Department uses ICL 1900 series computers for statistics, departmental payroll, repayments of selective employment tax, listing of some groups of vacancies, and for a matching service for professional and executive appointments. Processing is at Runcorn.
In addition the DHSS computer at Reading is used for the payment of unemployment benefit, mainly to persons registered at offices in London.
§ Mr. HuckfieldIs the Minister aware that, even from the information that he has just given, one call see that he now has at his disposal the means of storing a great deal more information on personal and individual details? Will he give an absolute assurance that the utmost regulation of confidentiality will be preserved? Can he also give an assurance that many of the individual personal details on trade union activities which circulate among employers will never find their way on to these computers?
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkThe hon. Member has another Question down on this subject. I listened to his speech on the Loyal Address the other day with great sympathy and, in certain respects, though not in this, with some alarm. I under- stand his concern in this matter. If he is concerned, I shall be glad if he will come and talk to me about it. The Government will in due course publish a White Paper which will deal with the privacy of personal information held in Government computers.
§ Mr. KaufmanWill the Minister ensure that when computers are used they are bought from ICL, whose headquarters are in West Gorton, in my constituency, where the employment is badly needed?
§ Mr. Chichester-ClarkI should call that another question.