§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to achieve greater co-operation with police forces to assist in the fight against crime. [160067]
§ Mr. RookerFollowing consultation with the Home Office, the DSS and the Association of Chief Police Officers of England, Wales and Northern Ireland have signed a memorandum of understanding. A copy has been placed in the Library. The memorandum sets out the principles underpinning the disclosure of personal information by the DSS to individual police forces engaged in the apprehension or prosecution of offenders. A similar memorandum will be signed shortly with the Association of Chief Police Officers (Scotland). Requests for information will now be considered in respect of all criminal offences rather than just the most serious ones.
The revised DSS policy on disclosure is that all personal information held in social security records will continue to be regarded as confidential. Information will not normally be disclosed to third parties without the consent of the person concerned. However, information may be disclosed without consent to assist in the prevention or detection of crime or to aid the apprehension or prosecution of offenders; to meet statutory requirements; to comply with a court order or to prevent duplication of payments from public funds.
518WThe new policy will come into effect today. Initial guidance to all DSS staff will be issued, followed by more detailed amendments to the protection of customer information guide, which is also in the House library, and is available to all DSS staff.