§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulatory guidelines are issued to general practitioners who store confidential patient data on general practitioner personal computers.
§ Mr. FreemanAll general medical practitioners who control the contents and use of automated data (including data held on practice personal computers) are required to be registered under the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984. The general medical services committee of the British Medical Association has drawn up guidance, working in close consultation with the Data Protection Registrar's office and the Department of Health.
§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what protection from unauthorised internal and external access is afforded to computerised testing information on pharmaceuticals for approval.
§ Mr. MellorAccess to confidential information relating to medicinal products which is held on the licensing authority's computerised database is protected by the appropriate physical and logical security controls. The effectiveness of these controls is kept under active review.