Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether he plans to submit an application to the EU Commission for a determination of the adequacy of UK data protection arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

On 24 August, the Government published a future partnership paper on how to ensure the continued protection and exchange of personal data between the EU and the UK, in light of the UK's withdrawal from, and new partnership with, the EU. The Government believes it would be in the interests of both the UK and the EU to agree early to mutually recognise each other’s’ data protection frameworks, as the basis for the continued free flow of data between the EU and the UK from the point of exit until such time as new and more permanent arrangements come​ ​into​ ​force. As negotiations on the nature of our future data and trade relationship have not begun, it would be inappropriate to speculate in any detail as to what arrangements we will seek to put in place.

Our objective remains to ensure continued data flows between the EU and countries outside the EEA once the UK leaves the EU. In doing so we will be considering all the available options that will provide legal certainty for businesses and citizens alike.