§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which independent researchers outside his Department have been given access to computerised departmental data; and which researchers having requested it have not received such access. [18194]
§ Mr. BoswellIt is not possible to provide a full response to this question because of disproportionate cost. However, MAFF's policy on the dissemination of data is designed to deal with requests for access on an equitable 57W basis and we operate under the official statistics code of practice and the code of practice on access to government information.
MAFF receives a considerable number of requests for access to computerised data for research purposes—covering a wide range of departmental responsibilities. As may be seen from the details contained in the document "Requests by Independent Researchers for Access to Computerised Data held by The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food", a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House, MAFF endeavours to respond positively and has provided data in the majority of cases where legislation and confidentiality restrictions allow. However, the confidential nature of certain information means that some requests have not been approved and the above document also gives some details of these.