HC Deb 28 January 1988 vol 126 c310W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the order under the Access to Personal Files Act currently under discussion will extend to universities, polytechnics and all schools.

Mrs. Rumbold

No. The draft regulations issued by my right hon. Friend for consultation in October 1987, which would be made under section 27 of the Education Act, 1980, would allow parents access to records of pupils in maintained schoolss and non-maintained special schools. Universities are outside their scope, as will be the polytechnics when the Education Reform Bill is enacted and the polytechnics cease to be local authority-maintained.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has met vice-principals of the universities to discuss the implications of their code of practice and the right of subject access under the Data Protection Act; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Jackson

There has been no such meeting. This is a matter for universities, within the law. I understand that the code of practice was finalised in consultation with the Data Protection Registrar's office.