Data Protection

(asked on 29th June 2015) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to help people protect their personal data.


Answered by
Lord Faulks Portrait
Lord Faulks
This question was answered on 13th July 2015

The Government takes the protection of personal data very seriously and is committed to making sure that the Information Commissioner has sufficient powers to ensure that organisations handle personal data appropriately and in accordance with the principles in the Data Protection Act 1998.

Over the last six months a number of steps have been taken to strengthen the Information Commissioner’s powers; including:

· Extending the Information Commissioner’s powers of compulsory audit to public sector NHS providers.

· Commencing section 56 of the Data Protection Act (DPA). This makes it a criminal offence for a person to require another person to use their subject access rights in the DPA to obtain and provide certain records as a condition of employment, or for providing a service, unless the relevant record is required by law or where it is justified in the public interest.

· Making it easier for the Information Commissioner to take action against companies that breach the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations by making nuisance calls.

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