Graham Gaskin (Hansard, 11 July 1990)

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will direct Liverpool city council to allow Graham Gaskin access to his file.

§ Mr. Dorrell
There is no power under which my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State can order a local authority to release confidential records of this kind.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health following the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on the Graham Gaskin case, what steps the Government have taken to implement the ruling; whether an independent procedure has yet been established to consider the release of Graham Gaskin's file; and what legislation is being considered arising out of the case.

§ Mr. Dorrell
The implications of the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights for the arrangements governing access to personal records are being carefully reviewed. Decisions on the need to modify those arrangements will be taken on completion of the review, at which stage I will write to the hon. Member.

§ Mr. Alton
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ascertain whether the Graham Gaskin file is complete and request that a copy be deposited with his office for safe keeping.

§ Mr. Dorrell
The file relating to Mr. Graham Gaskin is, quite properly, held by Liverpool city council. We have no wish to assume its responsibility for its safe keeping, nor does my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State have power to require the council to supply a copy.