§ Mr. HeddleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the terms of reference of the registrar for data protection; how many complaints the registrar has dealt with for each year since his appointment; and if he will categorise the nature of such complaints.
§ Mr. RentonThe general duties of the Data Protection Registrar are specified in Section 36 of the Data Protection Act 1984.
In his last report to Parliament dated June 1987, the registrar reported that he had received 225 complaints in the year under review and 60 complaints prior to that. Since the Act came fully into force in November 1987 I am informed by the registrar that the rate at which complaints are being received has increased fourfold. From the end of November 1987 until mid-January 1988, 202 complaints have been received. The registrar broadly described the nature of complaints in his last report, and later complaints are I understand, following a similar pattern.
§ Mr. HeddleTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in theOfficial Report details of the process he adopts to monitor the Data Protection Act 1984.
§ Mr. RentonThe Data Protection Registrar, who is independent of the Executive, monitors the Data Protection Act 1984 and as required by section 36(5) of the Act, reports directly to Parliament. He holds regular meetings with officials to keep them informed, but my right hon. Friend is also ready to consider any representations put to him on the operation of the Act.