§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is the case that details of current entitlements to benefits of social security claimants are recorded and stored in computer data banks; and, if so, who has access to the information.
§ Mr. OrmeDetails of entitlement to the following social security benefits are recorded on computers:
- National Insurance Retirement Pensions, Widows' Pensions and Child Special Allowances.
- Family Allowances (Child Benefit from April, 1977).
- Unemployment Benefit and related Supplementary Benefits.
- War Pensions.
- Mobility Allowance.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Invalid Care Allowance.
In addition to the staff of my Department responsible for administering these benefits, access to information is provided for the purposes of the Northern Ireland social security provisions under reciprocal arrangements, to the Department of Employment, which administers unemployment benefit as agent of my Department, and to the Supplementary Benefits Com- 496W mission, which discharges its responsibilities through my Department's network of local offices. The general rule is that information about the entitlement to benefit is not disclosed for purposes other than social security administration or where required by legislation unless the person concerned has given his consent. Exceptionally, however, information may be disclosed to protect public funds, and in particular to prevent duplicate provision from public funds.