§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment he has made of the data privacy implications of using national insurance numbers as indentifiers in existing and planned computerised data facilities at his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyWe are fully aware of the need to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of personal information. National insurance numbers are used as identifiers in a number of clerical or computer systems. We are reviewing the arrangements for preserving confidentiality in all computerised systems in the light of the Data Protection Act. In the development of new systems, full account is taken of the need to maintain confidentiality and to comply with the Act.