§ Harry CohenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what uses of the national insurance number other than those connected with tax or benefits are authorised; whether he intends to make the national insurance number a general identifier under the Data Protection1298W Act 1998; whether he seeks the views of the Information Commissioner when approving additional uses of the national insurance number; and if he will make a statement. [185952]
§ Dawn PrimaroloI refer to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions response of 14 April 2003 to your previous question. Additions to the list of authorised users of the national insurance number for non-tax or benefit purposes since that date will be placed in the Library.
Responsibility for authorising use of the national insurance number is held jointly by Inland Revenue and the Department of Work and Pensions who liaise with the Information Commissioner on data protection issues. We have no plans to register the national insurance number as a general identifier under the Data Protection Act 1998.