§ Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce data protection legislation on the lines of that already enacted in Sweden, West Germany, France, Austria, Norway, Denmark and Luxembourg, in order to enable British firms to undertake data processing services for customers in those countries.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now introduce legislation implementing the recommendations of the Lindop committee; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am considering the recommendation of the Data Protection Committee in the light of the outcome of the consultations on the report initiated by my predecessor. I am conscious of the concern that has been expressed by British firms about the possibility of foreign restrictions on the flow of data to this country for computer processing and shall take this fully into account in reaching my conclusions. Meanwhile, if hon. Members have any information about the effect on British firms of such restrictions I shall be glad to receive it.