HC Deb 17 March 1994 vol 239 cc831-2W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how copyright can be used to protect the NHS number; and whether copyright would prevent the NHS number from being used by other Government Departments, the police or security services.

Mr. Sackville

Copyright infringement, of the use of the national health service number system outside of the NHS, will be taken up by the Controller Her Majesty's Stationery Office, by way of injunction and damages.

Copyright does not cover the use of the NHS number by other Government Departments. However, there is no intention to use the NHS number for anything other than NHS purposes.