§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to whether the Data Protection Registrar has used his powers under section 36(5) of the Data Protection Act to report on how the use of personal data on the Government data network will affect his functions of supervising the workings of the Data Protection Act.
§ Mr. BrookeThe registrar referred to the Government data network in his third annual report to Parliament, welcoming the approach made to him and offering to comment on proposals at a general level. As my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary said in his answer to the hon. Member on 28 October at column333, I discussed the Government data network with the registrar on 8 September, and close contact is being maintained with him at official level.