§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what undertaking he gave to the Data Protection Registrar in respect of restricting the national insurance number to tax and benefit-related purposes; and what revision he has made to the undertaking following the use of that number by a private sector firm in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. ArbuthnotThe Data Protection Registrar has been advised it is departmental policy to restrict use of the national insurance number to national insurance, tax and social security benefit-related purposes. I can confirm that a request has been received from a private sector organisation for permission to use the national insurance number and that this is currently under consideration within the terms of the policy.