Data Protection

Part of Opposition Day – in the House of Commons at 7:53 pm on 19 February 1990.

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Photo of Mr Stuart Randall Mr Stuart Randall , Kingston upon Hull West 7:53, 19 February 1990

The order is complicated and an example of how not to draft legislation. I refer specifically to part II of the schedule. I have spoken to a few people today, none of whom seems to understand what this is about. I appreciate the Minister's explanation, which has helped considerably. In the explanatory note, only two full lines are devoted to part II. If we are to produce such orders in future, the House should be given a proper explanatory note so tha.t we understand what we are dealing with.

As the Minister said, the order deals mainly with consequential amendments emerging from the Companies Act 1989. It extends the list of functions in the Data Protection (Regulation of Financial Services etc.) (Subject Access Exemption) Order 1987, which is embraced by section 30 of the Data Protection Act. This means that individuals will be further denied access to computer files containing information about them. In losing that liberty, individuals give authorities the opportunity to identify fraud and maladministration in the financial services industry.

The Government will claim that they have got the balance right between these two aspects, and are minimising individuals' loss of liberty against the broader benefit of stamping out maladministration. How do we know that that is so? How can we be sure that the Government are not erring on the side of oppression—a strong word, but one which serves in tonight's debate?