§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce legislation to entitle people to gain access to all medical reports made about them by clinicians who have not been responsible for their clinical care, with particular reference to reports commissioned by insurance companies; and if he will make a statement. [35842]
§ Mr. HoramA person already has a right of access to medical reports, if held on computer, under the Data Protection Act 1984. The European Community directive 149W on data protection, 95/46/EC, requires the extension of our existing data protection to certain manually held records. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department is currently consulting on the implementation of the directive in the United Kingdom. We shall be considering in due course what action is called for.