§ Mr. Freudasked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what regulations exist concerning the access to, and use of, information stored on a Government computer; and whether he is satisfied with the present situation regarding the collation of such information from separate sources;
(2) whether she will list in the Official Report,the criteria under which information stored in a Government computer may be made available to an individual who is not an official of a Government Department.
§ Mr. HayhoeThere are no centrally laid down regulations or criteria concerning the collation, access to and use of information stored on Government computers. These are matters for the Departmental Minister concerned. The central computer and telecommunications agency of the Civil Service Department issues guidance on the protection of sensitive information processed by Government computer systems, which is adopted by Departments according to their circumstances. The statement to the House by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs on 19 March dealt with the Government's approach to data protection generally.—[Vol. 1, c. 161–62.]