HC Deb 06 July 1984 vol 63 cc338-9W
Mr. Ashdown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will describe the circumstances under which the records held for a person on the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer are deleted from the computer, stating the number of such deletions since the computer became operational.

Mr. Hayhoe

When it appears that the Department no longer has an interest in that particular subject. Since the computer became operational 30 such deletions have been made.

Mr. Ashdown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what numbers of persons for whom personal data are now held on the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer reflect (a) replacement of other records held before this computer became operational and (b) new work and investigations since this computer became operational.

Mr. Hayhoe

(a) Approximately 70,000; (b) Approximately 36,700.

Mr. Ashdown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the equipment and software of the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer, stating the storage capacity of the system.

Mr. Hayhoe

The Honeywell DPS 8/20 mainframe computers, each with 2 megabytes of memory working under the control of a GCOS 8 operating system. The software is the STATUS free text information storage and retrieval package developed by UK AERE, Harwell. The storage capacity is 1,200 megabytes.

Mr. Ashdown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will describe the circumstances under which a person first becomes the subject of an entry on the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer, identifying the number and ranks of Customs and Excise staff authorised to initiate such entries.

Mr. Hayhoe

An entry is made at the time when an investigation is commenced. Any member of the Department's staff graded from clerical officer upwards to assistant Secretary, who number approximately 20,000, could initiate such a record although all are scrutinised before entry by line management and are authorised by the project management team.