§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his discussions with the Data Protection Registrar concerning registration of personal data held by the Security Service which are not subject to section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984. [29699]
§ Mr. HowardI have had no such discussions with the Data Protection Registrar. The Security Service has confirmed to the Data Protection Registrar, however, that exemption of personal data held by the service from the registration provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984 is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security as provided for by section 27 of the Act.