§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether his Department has produced advice on the disclosure of statistical data which are derived from information that concerns living individuals, so as to ensure that the disclosure in question does not identify individuals; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThis Department has not produced advice on the disclosure of statistical data. The Government statistical service produced and published in 1984 a document which provides strict guidance in this area and the Department closely follows this advice—"The Government Statistical Service Code of Practice on the Handling of Data Obtained from Statistical Enquiries", Cmnd. 9270. A copy is available in the Library. The relevant sections are contained in pages 5 and 6 of the paper.