§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he intends to make the NHS Number a general identifier as defined by the Data Protection Act 1998; and if he will make a statement. [185957]
§ Mr. HuttonNational health service numbers are assigned to all patients who receive NHS care, and underpin the development of electronic care records. Departmental officials have formed the view that the widespread use of the NHS number means that it is a general identifier" within the meaning of the European data protection directive and the United Kingdom Data Protection Act and therefore formal regulations should be introduced to regulate its use.