§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer became operational.
§ Mr. Hayhoe1 March 1983.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many persons' personal data are held in the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer.
§ Mr. Hayhoe106,713 on 16 May 1984.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether access to the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer is available to any person other than staff of the Customs and Excise Department.
§ Mr. HayhoeNo.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the personal data held on each data subject in the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer.
§ Mr. HayhoeThe data include name, present address, any aliases, maiden name where appropriate, sex, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, available details of personal description, occupation, country of normal residence, passport details, telephone number, details of vehicles used by the subject, the role played by the subject, type of case in which the subject is involved and description of the goods or services concerned.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Customs and Excise staff can, using the departmental reference and information computer, gain access to personal data relating to a person for whom (a) the name and date of birth only and (b) the name and address only are given.
§ Mr. HayhoeYes.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many inquiries have been made of the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer since it became operational; and whether statistics of type of inquiry are available.
§ Mr. HayhoeAbout 17,500, and statistics of the type of inquiry are not available.
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§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the typical response time for an inquiry made of the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer from an on-line terminal.
§ Mr. HayhoeAbout five seconds.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many computer terminals have on-line access to the Customs and Excise departmental reference and information computer; and how many and what ranks of Customs and Excise staff are authorised to operate these terminals.
§ Mr. HayhoeTwenty-five and, on 16 May 1984, 396 staff were authorised to operate these terminals. Their grades vary from data processor to assistant secretary.
§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the number of Customs and Excise offices that do not have a terminal with on-line access to the departmental reference and information computer; and how staff in these offices make inquiries of the system.
§ Mr. HayhoeTerminals with on-line access to the departmental reference and information computer are sited at present in the three headquarter buildings of the investigation division of the Customs and Excise Department. Staff occupying all other offices, of which there are approximately 900, make inquiries of the system by telephone. Strict security precautions exist to prevent misuse of this facility.