HL Deb 11 April 2002 vol 633 cc133-4WA
Lord Brookman

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the Performance and Innovation Unit will publish its report on privacy and data-sharing [HL3724]

Lord Williams of Mostyn

The Performance and Innovation Unit's reportPrivacy and Data-Sharing: The Way Forward for Public Services is being published today. The report is important in the continuing development of customer-focused public services and sets out a strategy for improving the use of personal data in the public sector while still safeguarding individual's pivacy, including:

  1. (i) Making better use of technology to deliver more secure, more joined-up services—using technology to ensure data are secure at all times and to enable more joined-up, more personalised service delivery;
  2. (ii) Improving data quality—ensuring that the data held for public service delivery are good quality and up to date;
  3. (iii) Building public trust—ensuring that clear principles govern the way that personal information is used across the public sector and that there is greater openness in the interactions between public services and their consumers; and
  4. (iv) Addressing legal problems—ensuring that public services are clear about how the law regulates data-sharing, together with consultation on possible options for legislative change.

There are a number of recommendations in the report where we need a proper debate before final decisions are made. On those recommendations—set out in the report—the Government are seeking views from all interested parties. For the other recommendations, the Government want to see early progress in taking them forward as part of the strategy in delivering the overall objectives.

Copies of the report have been placed in the Printed Paper Office and the Libraries.