§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Prime Minister what is the Government's policy on individual privacy and on individual choice as to who, or who may not, hold, use or disclose information that relates to that individual; and whether she will establish a Cabinet Committee to review legislation across the whole range of Government on these issues.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Data Protection Act 1984, introduced by this Government, has greatly extended the safeguards relating to personal information held on computer; and privacy in the context of press activities is currently being examined by a committee under the chairmanship of Mr. David Calcutt QC. There are also sanctions against disclosure or misuse of information in particular circumstances, such as breach of confidence.
The Government subscribe to the conclusion of the Younger committee (1972) that a general right of privacy would be very difficult to define in law, given in particular the variety of situations to which it would have to apply and the inherent conflict with other principles such as freedom of expression. It keeps the issues under continual review, and believes that problems which arise are best considered in the context of particular aspects of people's lives.