§ Mr. Hoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy that personal details on Department of Health and Social Security computers will not be used for the purpose of implementing the poll tax legislation.
§ Mr. PortilloI have been asked to reply.
Our policy is to maintain the confidentiality of social security records and to disclose them only in certain limited circumstances. One circumstance where we would consider such disclosure would be to safeguard public funds. No decision has been taken on whether we should provide for the disclosure of any details of certain social security claims to local authorities administering the community charge.