HC Deb 11 February 1992 vol 203 cc419-20W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what data information systems his Department has(a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. McLoughlin

My Department has only three data systems with external links or commitments to supply information to which data protection provisions also apply. They arethe register of drivers and vehicles maintained by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, from which information is currently supplied to the police for law enforcement in accordance with existing registrations under the Data Protection Act 1984; the traffic commissioners record of licensed goods operators, to which the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Vehicle Inspectorate Agency and the Customs and Excise drugs intelligence unit have access for law enforcement and road safety purposes in accordance with existing registrations under the Data Protection Act 1984; the record of licensed public service vehicle operators currently under development which will operate under identical data protection registrations as that for goods vehicle operators.

In addition the traffic commissioners have access to the vehicle inspectorate's roadworthiness and enforcement database for road safety and law enforcement purposes.

The Department periodically reviews both the scope of and the means by which protected data is transferred to other agencies. The purpose for any external data request is considered carefully and the Data Protection Registrar would be consulted before any change in registration purposes implemented.