HC Deb 16 July 1987 vol 119 cc1273-4
12. Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to produce the regulations necessary to give effect to the Data Protection Act; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton

We intend to lay the necessary orders immediately Parliament returns after the summer recess.

Mr. Kirkwood

Does the Minister not accept that that leaves a very short time for the people who are expected to implement these regulations in November, when the Data Protection Act 1984 provisions take effect? Is he aware that the chairman of the British Medical Association consultants' committee is saying that it might cost as much as £30 for an access fee for people to get access to their medical records? Will he assure the House that the fee levels set by the regulations will not prohibit people from having access to their records because of financial constraints?

Mr. Renton

I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's first contention. The orders will be laid around about 20 October and there will be plenty of time for them to be debated in the House before they come into force on 11 November. With regard to the hon. Gentleman's question about the fee, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary told the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) in a written answer on 1 July that we would be announcing the level of the fee very shortly.