§ Lord LLOYD of KILGERRANasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the fact that many member countries of the EEC have introduced legislation for the protection of data (particularly concerning individuals) when stored in computers or similar equipment,
- (a) such legislation may result in excluding United Kingdom sources from transferring data to and from the continent of Europe because certain countries may not consider the security of data in the United Kingdom adequate in the absence of steps formally to protect it;
424 - (b) the proposals in the Lindop Report of 1978 would help to deal with this situation;
- (c) if the answer to (b) above is "yes", when do they propose to implement the Lindop Report in this respect.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Belstead)Some members of the European Community have such legislation in force, but the Government have no evidence that it has yet resulted in excluding United Kingdom sources from transferring data to and from the Continent. The proposals in the Lindop Report certainly represent a way of dealing with the situation. My right honourable 425WA friend is considering these proposals in the light of the comments made on them by a wide range of bodies in the public and private sectors, but he is not yet ready to make a statement. In the meantime the Government are keeping in close touch with developments overseas.