§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the position is on certificates, under section 28 of the Data Protection Act 1998 concerning the Security Service; and if he will make a statement. [25158]
§ Mr. BlunkettOn 10 December, I signed a new certificate describing in general terms the personal data that the Security Service may process that requires exemption under the Data Protection Act 1998 on the grounds of safeguarding national security. I have placed a copy of that certificate together with the public reasons for my signing it in the Library.
The new certificate takes account of the comments made by the National Security panel of the Information Tribunal in their determination on 1 October in respect of the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). The new certificate supersedes the one quashed by the Tribunal in that appeal.