Open Government And Data Protection

EDM number 2380 in 1992-93, proposed by Harry Cohen on 22/07/1993.

That this House notes that the Data Protection Registrar has faced problems involving breaches of individual rights in connection with policing, the security services, the operation of immigration policy, poll tax abuses, the sale of the electoral register, benefits data, health data, the Child Support Agency and the use of the national insurance number as a unique personal identifier; notes that many of these serious privacy problems have stemmed directly from Government policy or the responsibilities of Ministers; further notes the threat to the effectiveness of the Registrar's Office due to large reductions in grant money to it despite the fact that complaints to the Registrar's Office are now running at a record 5,000 per year; also notes the Government's opposition to the data protection proposals from the European Commission which would strengthen individual privacy rights; and draws the inevitable conclusion that instead of trumpeting their weak proposals for Open Government, Ministers should call a halt to their open season on the infringement of individual privacy.

This motion has been signed by a total of 37 MPs.