§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) which Government Departments pay to access information on the national change of address database; [156453]
(2) what the cost to public funds of accessing the national change of address database was in each year since 1995. [156455]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienIt is a matter for individual Departments to provide the information requested. There are no central records kept in the Home Office of these costs and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have lodged complaints with the Data Protection Registrar concerning information from the change of address database sold by the Post Office to third parties; [156456]
(2) if he will make it his policy to require the Data Protection Registrar to obtain the consent of an individual before information from the change of address database is sold on to third parties. [156454]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Data Protection Registrar has been known since 30 January 2001 as the Information Commissioner. The Commissioner administers and enforces the Data Protection Act 1998 independently of the Government.
I have drawn the Commissioner's attention to these questions and I understand that she will be writing to my hon. Friend.