Data Protection (Universities)

HC Deb 31 March 1994 vol 240 cc943-4W

Mr. Jim Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the data protection legislation to enable universities to provide a list of students resident in their accommodation to the electoral registration officer.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Personal data are exempt from the non-disclosure provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984 in any case in which the disclosure is required by or under any enactment. Electoral registration officers have a power under the Representation of the People Regulations 1986 to require any owner of premises within the area for which they act to provide information which they need to compile the register of electors. They are therefore entitled to ask for the names of eligible students living in universities accommodation.