Clause 42
Welfare Reform Bill
5:45 pm
Jim Murphy (Minister of State (Work), Department for Work and Pensions; East Renfrewshire, Labour)
Clause 42 is needed to align existing protections against unauthorised data sharing in relation to benefits staff and local government. The hon. Member for Windsor said, rightly I think, that the clause replaces section 123 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, which applies to benefits staff, and section 95 of the Local GovernmentAct 2000. The clause creates a criminal offence of unauthorised disclosure by welfare services staff of information gained through clause 39, which is headed “Information relating to certain benefits”. Conviction for the offence may lead to a fine or, importantly, imprisonment.