Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, by what form of communication (a) his Department and (b) an individual on behalf of his Department notify the Information Commissioner's Office of the name and contact details of each Data Protection Officer since May 2018.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Information Commissioner’s Office was informed by email.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, prior to the formal notification to the Information Commissioner's Office of Paul Woods' appointment as the Data Protection Officer in his Department, who else was appointed to that role; and for what periods of time those appointments were made.
Answered by Robert Buckland
Data Protection compliance at the Attorney General’s Office was managed as part of a wider role in the office and was in place from April 2015. There were no DPOs required before May 2018.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, on what date Paul Woods, the Departmental Records Officer and FOI/DPA coordinator in the Government Legal Department, became the Data Protection Officer for his Department; and (a) when and (b) how that appointment was notified to the (i) Information Commissioner's Office, (ii) Ministers of his Department, (iii) staff of his Department and (iv) Treasury Solicitor.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Appointment was confirmed on 22 May 2018 and the Attorney General’s Office was informed that day. The ICO, GLD Staff and the Treasury Solicitor were notified 25 May 2018.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, who in his Department holds the position of Senior Information Risk Owner; when and how that official was appointed; what criteria were used to assess the professional qualities and expert knowledge of data protection law and practices of the candidates for that post; and who has held that position in each of the last six years.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The position of Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO), in the Attorney General’s Office, is part of the Head of Operations Role. The official was appointed following fair and open completion in 2014 following the guidelines for Senior Civil Service Recruitment. The Head of Operations has held the role of SIRO for the last 6 years.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what complaints procedure is open to members of the public if they wish to complain that (a) his Department’s Data Protection Officer and (b) any staff of his Department is in breach of the Civil Service Code; how many complaints have been made against staff of his Department for breaches of the Civil Service Code in each of the last two years; when, how and by whom those staff have been investigated; and what outcomes of those investigations have been recorded.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Attorney General’s Office publishes its complaints procedure, which is open to members of the public online here. There have been no recorded complaints against AGO staff for breaching the Civil Service Code in the last 2 years.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what recruitment process his Department followed when appointing its Data Protection Officer (DPO); how that position was advertised; how many candidates applied for that post; what criteria were used to assess the candidates' (i) professional qualities and expert knowledge of data protection law and practices and (ii) their ability to fulfil the tasks referred to in Article 39 of the General Data Protection Regulation; who was appointed as DPO for his Department; when and where his Department has published its DPO's contact details; and what lines of reporting exist within his Department in respect of its DPO.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Attorney General’s Office shares its Data Protection Officer with the Government Legal Department (GLD) and HM Crime Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI). In line with Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Guidance, the role of DPO can be taken by existing Civil Servants. In this instance the DPO function was added to that of the existing roles of Departmental Records Officer and FOI/DPA co-ordinator in the GLD.
Asked by: George Howarth (Labour - Knowsley)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, if he will publish the job titles and grades of officials in his Department that (a) have been and (b) are currently responsible for ensuring that communications in relation to Jon Venables are compliant with the injunction granted by the Family Division on 22 June 2001.
Answered by Robert Buckland
The Attorney General’s Office Legal and Communications teams deal with a range of cases. All staff are aware of the terms of this injunction and the need to ensure that any communications comply with those terms.