Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Ministers in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the (a) costs and benefits for UK businesses of that Department's proposed reforms of UK data protection regulation and (b) potential risks to the UK's future data adequacy status with the EU.

Treasury Ministers and officials continue to work closely with Ministers and officials at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the Department’s proposed reforms of UK data protection regulation.

The UK regained autonomy over its domestic data protection laws on 1st January 2021 and exact alignment to EU law is not a requirement for EU data adequacy. The UK can reshape its approach to regulation and seize opportunities with its new regulatory freedoms, helping to drive growth, innovation and competition across the country. In doing so, the UK intends to maintain its high standards of data protection and ensure that the UK data regime continues to be based on public trust in the responsible use of data.

The economic impact of any future legislation to implement these reforms will be assessed in the usual way, and we will continue to engage with EU counterparts, as appropriate, on these issues. The Government response to the ‘Data: a new direction’ consultation will be published in the spring.