The Eec Directive On Data Protection And The UK Voluntary Sector

EDM number 945 in 1990-91, proposed by Robert Maclennan on 12/06/1991.

That this House welcomes the European Community Commission's concern to ensure appropriate protection for the general public within its draft directive on data protection; regrets that the main emphasis of the draft directive as it relates to direct mail concentrates on regulation of every day use of direct mail as opposed to misuse of data; believes that the use of direct mailing techniques by the voluntary sector in the United Kingdom is a legitimate way of raising and distributing enormous resources in the other-than-for-profit sector; further believes that it is the misuse of data which damages an otherwise effective, efficient and appropriate form of communication between members, supporters and donors of non-profit groups; is concerned that the directive, as currently drafted, will be counter-productive to the agreed end of seeking to eradicate mis-directed and unwanted communication with individuals,and, furthermore, that it will severely restrict the voluntary sector's ability to raise funds and therefore carry out its charitable work; welcomes the establishment of CHANGE (Charities and Non-profit Groups in Europe) by the British voluntary sector; and support CHANGE's call for the Directive to be amended in favour of regulation against data misuse through a European-wide mailing preference service requiring mandatory registration.

This motion has been signed by a total of 117 MPs.