HL Deb 23 February 2005 vol 669 cc207-8WA
The Earl of Northesk

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 4 February (WA 72), which databases that hold personal information on individual citizens are currently maintained by:

  1. (a) the Home Office;
  2. (b) the Department for Work and Pensions;
  3. (c) the Department for Education and Skills;
  4. (d) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
  5. (e) the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister;
  6. (f) the Cabinet Office; and
  7. (g) the Inland Revenue. [HL1220]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

Further to my previous Answer, the information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, as no central record is kept of databases maintained by government departments. Many departments maintain several databases holding personal information on individuals for differing purposes. For example, my own department's court service maintains a database of court records; the Home Office, inter alia, holds separate information in respect of immigration, passports and the prisons service; and the DWP has separate databases on retirement pension, income support, child support, invalidity benefit and many others.

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