§ 3. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give advice to local authorities on the computerised storage of personal information about teachers and pupils.
§ Mrs. ThatcherNot at present.
§ Mr. HuckfieldDoes the Secretary of State think that it is time that she consulted not only representatives of local authorities but the teachers' unions? When she does so, will she bear in mind that there are some very strong objections by parents and teachers to surrendering personal information without sufficient safeguards that do not really exist for maintaining the confidentiality of information?
§ Mrs. ThatcherThe hon. Gentleman's question is a little premature. The Local Authorities Management Services and Computer Committee has not completed its consideration of the findings of a feasibility study by using a computer for storing information on pupils and teachers. However, it has already published some notes for the guidance of local authorities on computer privacy.