To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is on providing compensation to people whose medical confidentiality has been breached by (a) the care.data programme and (b) his Department's other programmes.

The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) has been established to be the secure environment in which personal confidential data is held and analysed. The HSCIC is legally bound to maintain confidentially and to ensure confidential information is held securely. This would include data collected as part of the care.data programme or other programmes managed by the HSCIC on behalf of the Department.

Breach of confidentiality by the HSCIC would attract a fine of up to £500,000 from the Data Protection regulator, the Information Commissioner and leave it open for an individual to seek redress through the civil courts.