§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement before the Easter Recess about the result of his investigation into the disposal by the liquidator for the Vehicle and General Insurance Company of tapes of confidential and personal information to the London and Edinburgh General Insurance Company, and its use by others.
§ Mr. RidleyI understand that in the course of our review of policy towards the insurance industry a letter had been sent to my Department of which I was not aware when I answered the hon. Member's Question on 20th March.
I am now informed that a copy of a tape belonging to The Vehicle and General Insurance Company Limited (in liquidation) and containing names and addresses of policy holders and particulars of insurance cover has been sold, on terms, to the London and Edinburgh General Insurance Company Limited; and that the liquidators may sell the information to other interested parties also.
The disposal of the assets of the company in liquidation is in the hands of the joint liquidators who have powers under 10W the Companies Act to sell them. Any person aggrieved by an act or decision of the joint liquidators may apply to the court and the court may confirm, reverse or modify the act or decision complained of, and make such order in the premises as it thinks just.
The Committee on Privacy has for the past two years been considering issues of principle raised in the handling of personal information. I can well understand the basis for the hon. Member's concern, but I suggest he waits and sees what the report may have to say about such matters.