HC Deb 24 July 1989 vol 157 c497W
Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often and in what circumstances the immigration and nationality department discloses information held on computer about asylum-seekers and their families to(a) past, current or prospective employers and employees, (b) other members of their families, (c) advisers and advice workers, (d) the Department of Social Security, (e) other Government Departments, (f) police forces, (g) judges, magistrates and the courts, (h) the prison and probation services, (i) education establishments, (j) public libraries, the press and media, (k) the registrar general and (l) hon. Members of the House of Lords; and whether asylum-seekers are told that information collected from and about them is liable to be disclosed in this way.

Mr. Renton

Information on individual asylum seekers is treated in strict confidence. Information which is held on the refugee index is used for statistical purposes and as an aid to case workers in the Home Office's refugee unit. There is no disclosure from it outside Government of information on individual cases.