§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many local authorities in England and Wales have so far registered for the basis of the poll tax registration with those responsible for the Data Protection Act 1984; which councils have been refused registration and for what reasons; what further guidance in addition to the community charge practice notes the Data Protection Registrar has issued to local authorities; if he will place a copy of such guidance in the Library; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Renton[holding answer 6 July 1989]: Community charge registration officers have to register under the Data Protection Act for compiling and maintaining community charge registers if those registers are to be kept on computer.
The data protection registrar, who reports directly to Parliament, informs me that by the end of June, he had identified 293 applications from CCROs for new register entries for the purpose of compiling and maintainng a community charge register. In addition, a number of local authorities had applied in their own name to register for this purpose.
I understand that so far, one application by Trafford borough council has been refused on the grounds that some of the information asked for was not necessary for the CCRO's statutory functions and that the form did not explain that there was no duty to provide information about relationships of people in households. In the light of undertakings given by the CCRO about the data to be processed for registration a revised application is bung considered.
The registrar has written to all CCROs in England and arrangements have been made for a copy to be placed in the Library.