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Written Question
Contact Tracing: Computer Software
Tuesday 16th June 2020

Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent Central)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people by (a) age, (b) disability, (c) race and (d) sex are being interviewed or surveyed on the Isle of Wight to understand their experience of using the NHS covid-19 contract tracing app; whether his Department has made an assessment of whether those people being so interviewed or surveyed are representative of the diversity of the UK; if he will place a copy of the methodology for those interviews or surveys in the Library; and whether that methodology was reviewed by the NHS COVID-19 App Data Ethics Advisory Board.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

In order to support the evaluation of the Isle of Wight rollout of the Test and Trace programme, the Department commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) to conduct a survey of Isle of Wight residents. The objective was to deliver a representative survey exploring experiences of using the National Health Service COVID-19 app, virology testing and public health contact tracing. The details and results of this survey will be published on the GOV.UK website in mid-June together with a report on the Isle of Wight phase evaluation.

This push-to-web survey of Isle of Wight residents aged 16+ included NatCen’s standard demographics questions including age, sex and ethnicity but not disability. In addition, many rounds of user research and testing have been conducted throughout the development of the app, with people of different ages, genders, ethnicities, socio-economic status, and digital skills, to ensure it meets the needs of different groups.

We will always comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty, which considers the impact of a policy or decision on groups with protected characteristics, and we have carried out an Equality and Health Impact Assessment.


Written Question
NHS Covid-19 App Data Ethics Advisory Board
Thursday 11th June 2020

Asked by: Steve Baker (Conservative - Wycombe)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ensure that members of the NHS Covid-19 App Data Ethics Advisory Board are given unrestricted access to all the information that they require.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

The independent NHS COVID-19 App Ethics Advisory Board serves an important role in providing constructive challenge and advice. In order to fulfil its role, the board receives frequent, detailed briefings from those developing the app.


Written Question
Contact Tracing: Computer Software
Thursday 21st May 2020

Asked by: Gill Furniss (Labour - Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NHS covid-19 contact tracing app, what consultation the Government has had with the Information Commissioner before processing personal data under Article 36 of The General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

There is no legal requirement for the data controller to consult the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under Article 36 of the General Data Protection regulation as the data collected is not identifiable and the processing is not therefore considered to be high risk.

However, the ICO has been working with NHSX for some time providing information governance assurance on the app development, including advising on the Data Protection Impact Assessment regarding risk mitigation. The ICO is represented on the Assurance Board and on the Ethics Advisory Board as an observer. Both boards report up to the app’s Oversight Board.

The ICO published a statement on 24 April confirming they will offer support during the life of the app as it is developed, rolled out, and when it is no longer needed.


Written Question
Contact Tracing: Computer Software
Wednesday 20th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Clement-Jones (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what conclusions the NHSX Ethics Advisory Board reached about the COVID-19 contact tracing application trial on the Isle of Wight.

Answered by Lord Bethell

The Ethics Advisory Board (EAB) of the National Health Service COVID-19 app published a letter to the Secretary of State on 24 April which sets out its thinking on the COVID-19 contact tracing application.

In its letter, the EAB sets out six principles that must be upheld to ensure the NHS COVID-19 app achieves that balance. Given the importance of securing and maintaining public trust around this issue, these principles are based around maintaining public trust in the use of data; they include ensuring value, impact, security, accountability, transparency and control.

These principles have been accepted by the Secretary of State and the Board will continue to meet regularly to provide its advice on the app’s progress.


Written Question
Contact Tracing: Computer Software
Wednesday 20th May 2020

Asked by: Lord Falconer of Thoroton (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish (1) a data protection impact assessment, (2) a privacy impact assessment, (3) advice received from the Information Commissioner, and (4) advice received from the ethics committee chaired by Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery, for the COVID-19 contact tracing application; and if so, when.

Answered by Lord Bethell

We have prioritised security and privacy at all stages of the National Health Service COVID-19 app’s development. An initial Data Protection Impact Assessment and a privacy notice have already been published on 7 May and, to ensure ongoing transparency, these will be updated as the app develops. A member of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) staff has been working alongside the NHSX team since 23 March and the ICO’s most recent thinking on this matter is published and updated frequently on their website. The Ethics Advisory Board of the NHS COVID-19 app has published a letter to the Secretary of State summarising its advice in relation to the COVID-19 application. A copy of the letter is attached.


Written Question
Contact Tracing: Computer Software
Thursday 7th May 2020

Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data risk assessment has been carried out for the new covid-19 tracing app being developed by NHSX.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

The COVID-19 contact-tracing app will give the public a simple way to make a difference and to help keep themselves and their families safe. It will be one of a number of tools we use in the fight against COVID-19 but it will be voluntary. People will have the choice of whether or not to download the app and they will be able to delete it whenever they like. If users delete the app, all data stored on the phone and not shared with the National Health Service would be deleted. If users do not opt to share their data, it will be deleted on a continuous 28-day cycle within the app, on the phone. We intend to withdraw the app once the epidemic is over.

It is entirely possible for users to use the app without providing personally identifiable data or location data (unless they wish to request a test). We hope the public will opt-in to donate more data, which will help the NHS to understand and manage the pandemic.

We will always comply with the law around the use of data, including the relevant provisions of the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

We have been consulting on our plans with the Information Commissioner, the National Data Guardian’s Panel and the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, as well as with representatives from Understanding Patient Data and volunteers who provided a patient and public perspective. We have established an ethics advisory board for the app, chaired by Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery from University College London who previously headed the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. This expert input, and the rigorous design process will ensure the data is free from bias and meets the highest standards. We will be publishing a Data Protection Impact Assessment in due course.


Written Question
Contact Tracing: Computer Software
Thursday 7th May 2020

Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what user or stakeholder consultation processes are in place for the new covid-19 tracing app being developed by NHSX.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

The COVID-19 contact-tracing app will give the public a simple way to make a difference and to help keep themselves and their families safe. It will be one of a number of tools we use in the fight against COVID-19 but it will be voluntary. People will have the choice of whether or not to download the app and they will be able to delete it whenever they like. If users delete the app, all data stored on the phone and not shared with the National Health Service would be deleted. If users do not opt to share their data, it will be deleted on a continuous 28-day cycle within the app, on the phone. We intend to withdraw the app once the epidemic is over.

It is entirely possible for users to use the app without providing personally identifiable data or location data (unless they wish to request a test). We hope the public will opt-in to donate more data, which will help the NHS to understand and manage the pandemic.

We will always comply with the law around the use of data, including the relevant provisions of the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

We have been consulting on our plans with the Information Commissioner, the National Data Guardian’s Panel and the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, as well as with representatives from Understanding Patient Data and volunteers who provided a patient and public perspective. We have established an ethics advisory board for the app, chaired by Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery from University College London who previously headed the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. This expert input, and the rigorous design process will ensure the data is free from bias and meets the highest standards. We will be publishing a Data Protection Impact Assessment in due course.


Written Question
Contact Tracing: Computer Software
Thursday 7th May 2020

Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how the new COVID-19 tracing app being developed by NHSX complies with (a) purpose limitation (b) data minimisation (c) data privacy by design, (d) freedom from bias and other data principles.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

The COVID-19 contact-tracing app will give the public a simple way to make a difference and to help keep themselves and their families safe. It will be one of a number of tools we use in the fight against COVID-19 but it will be voluntary. People will have the choice of whether or not to download the app and they will be able to delete it whenever they like. If users delete the app, all data stored on the phone and not shared with the National Health Service would be deleted. If users do not opt to share their data, it will be deleted on a continuous 28-day cycle within the app, on the phone. We intend to withdraw the app once the epidemic is over.

It is entirely possible for users to use the app without providing personally identifiable data or location data (unless they wish to request a test). We hope the public will opt-in to donate more data, which will help the NHS to understand and manage the pandemic.

We will always comply with the law around the use of data, including the relevant provisions of the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

We have been consulting on our plans with the Information Commissioner, the National Data Guardian’s Panel and the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, as well as with representatives from Understanding Patient Data and volunteers who provided a patient and public perspective. We have established an ethics advisory board for the app, chaired by Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery from University College London who previously headed the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. This expert input, and the rigorous design process will ensure the data is free from bias and meets the highest standards. We will be publishing a Data Protection Impact Assessment in due course.


Written Question
Contact Tracing: Computer Software
Thursday 7th May 2020

Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the purpose is of the new covid-19 tracing app being developed by NHSX.

Answered by Nadine Dorries

The COVID-19 contact-tracing app will give the public a simple way to make a difference and to help keep themselves and their families safe. It will be one of a number of tools we use in the fight against COVID-19 but it will be voluntary. People will have the choice of whether or not to download the app and they will be able to delete it whenever they like. If users delete the app, all data stored on the phone and not shared with the National Health Service would be deleted. If users do not opt to share their data, it will be deleted on a continuous 28-day cycle within the app, on the phone. We intend to withdraw the app once the epidemic is over.

It is entirely possible for users to use the app without providing personally identifiable data or location data (unless they wish to request a test). We hope the public will opt-in to donate more data, which will help the NHS to understand and manage the pandemic.

We will always comply with the law around the use of data, including the relevant provisions of the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

We have been consulting on our plans with the Information Commissioner, the National Data Guardian’s Panel and the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, as well as with representatives from Understanding Patient Data and volunteers who provided a patient and public perspective. We have established an ethics advisory board for the app, chaired by Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery from University College London who previously headed the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. This expert input, and the rigorous design process will ensure the data is free from bias and meets the highest standards. We will be publishing a Data Protection Impact Assessment in due course.