§ 33. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek additional powers to protect members of the public from having their names wrongfully published in lists of alleged debt defaulters, and from the threat of such publication.
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§ Mr. RidleyIt would not be right to consider additional powers in advance of receiving the Report of the Committee on Privacy, which is considering whether any changes are desirable in the whole law relating to the disclosure of the private affairs of individuals. The individual already has the protection provided by the general law on libel and by the provisions on unlawful harassment of debtors contained in the Administration of Justice Act, 1970.