§ Mr. CohenTo ask the President of the Board of Trade how many certificates have been signed under the terms of section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 for each year since 1987.
705W
§ Mr. EggarInquiries completed within the time available indicate that no exemptions under the terms of section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984 have been signed by the President of the Board of Trade or his predecessors in the period since 1987. Three exemptions were approved by the Secretary of State for Energy in 1987, one in 1988 and none after that up to the merger with the Department of Trade and Industry. If my further inquiries identify that any additional exemptions have been authorised I will respond further to the hon. Member.