HC Deb 14 February 2002 vol 380 cc601-3W
Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the average cost of processing each information request under the Data Protection Act 1998. [33443]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the period of time elapsed is for the oldest outstanding request for information under the Data Protection Act 1998, since receipt of the(a) original request and (b) administration fee. [33444]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The Department for Education and Skills has five outstanding requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998.

For the oldest request, 36 days have elapsed since the original request for information was received.

The Department does not charge a fee for requests for information under the Act.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the longest period of time elapsed is between receiving(a) the administration fee and providing the information requested and (b) a request for information and providing the information requested, under the Data Protection Act 1998. [33453]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The longest period of time that has elapsed between a request for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 and the provision of that information is 60 days.

The Department for Education and Skills does not charge a fee for requests for information under the Act.

The data controller is also not obliged to comply with the request until he has been supplied with such information as he may reasonably require to confirm the requester's identity and to locate the information that the requester requires. The 40-day period begins when this information is received.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what administration fees are charged by the Department for information requests made under the Data Protection Act 1998; [33460]

(2) what percentage of responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 the Department has completed (a) within 40 days of receipt of the £10 fee, (b) between 40 and 60 days of and (c) over 60 days after receiving the administration fee; [33467]

(3) how many responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 the Department has completed (a) within 40 days of receipt of, (b) between 40 and 60 days of receiving and (c) over 60 days after receiving the £10 administration fee. [33562]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

The Department for Education and Skills does not charge a fee for requests for information under the Act.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the policy of the Department is for ensuring responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 are completed within 40 days; and what their procedure is to achieve this. [33472]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

Requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 are logged by the departmental Data Protection Officer (DPO).

When the DPO has either to trawl the Department or approach individual divisions for information, he ensures that a deadline is set for response that gives him sufficient time to coordinate the response within the requirements of the Act, and ensures that any non-response is followed up promptly.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Department's procedure is for responding to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998; if she will place a copy in the Library; and if she will make a statement. [33481]

Mr. Ivan Lewis

Requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 are logged by the departmental Data Protection Officer (DPO).who also co-ordinates the completion of the response within the requirements of the Act.

The DPO may write to the requester seeking such evidence as he may reasonably require to confirm the requester's identity and to locate the information that the requester requires. Depending on the response, he will initiate a search either with the relevant division (s) or Department-wide. The DPO is responsible for sifting the information provided and co-ordinating the final reply within the required 40-day deadline.

Matthew Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many responses to requests for information under the Data Protection Act 1998 have been completed(a) within 40 days, (b) between 40 and 60 days and (c) over 60 days after receiving the original letter; and how many are still outstanding. [33569]

0. Mr. Ivan Lewis

The data controller is not obliged to comply with the request until he has been supplied with such information as he may reasonably require to confirm the requester's identity and to locate the information that the requester requires. The 40-day period begins when this information is received.

With reference to that date, the numbers completed are as follows: (a)(b)(c)

There are five requests outstanding.