§ Dr. Marekasked the Prime Minister how she envisages Ministers exercising the powers granted by section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterSection 27 provides that personal data are totally exempt from the provisions of the Act if an exemption is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security. Personal data are also exempt from the non-disclosure provisions in any case in which the disclosure is for the same purpose. It will be for a Minister of the Crown—who must be a member of the Cabinet, the Attorney-General or the Lord Advocate — to determine whether the exemption is or was required at any time and a certificate signed by him will be conclusive evidence of that fact. Any determination that an exemption is required under the Act will, of course, be made only after the most careful consideration.