§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department at whose initiative the Data Protection Registrar was asked to investigate Yorkshire water authority's practice of selling information about its customers to private mail advertising agencies.
§ Mr. RentonI am informed by the Data Protection Registrar that the matter was drawn to his attention by the60W Bradford Telegraph and Argus. It is the registrar's normal practice to investigate cases which suggest a possible breach of the Data Protection Act.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the results of the Data Protection Registrar's investigation of Yorkshire water authority's practice of selling information about its customers are made public.
§ Mr. RentonMy right hon. Friend has no powers to direct the Data Protection Registrar in this matter. I am informed by the registrar that he determines whether or not to give publicity to the results of investigations he undertakes in the light of the circumstances found. No conclusions have yet been reached in this case.