Lib Dems reveal true implications of data sharing proposals (North Tayside Liberal Democrats)

North Tayside Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Lib Dems reveal true implications of data sharing proposals

February 20, 2009 12:01 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown MSP has raised concerns over a controversial data sharing clause that forms part of the UK Coroners and Justice Bill.

The UK-wide Bill proposes amendments to the Data Protection Act, including a power to enable information sharing. This would allow UK Ministers to require Scottish bodies to share information with UK Government bodies.

Robert Brown MSPUK Ministers could issue 'information-sharing orders' to enable any person or body to share information which consists of or includes personal data, for any purpose with which their department is concerned. This can be done without scrutiny by the Scottish Parliament

Commenting, Mr Brown said:

"I am deeply concerned about the information sharing clause outlined in the UK Coroners and Justice Bill. It would allow UK Ministers to order that personal information held by Scottish Government departments and other devolved bodies, be shared with UK Government bodies without parliamentary scrutiny at Holyrood.

"This data could be used to provide information for UK databases such as the ones used for ID Cards.

"As part of the previous administration Liberal Democrats insisted that the expensive white elephant of the Labour Government's ID Cards scheme should not be supported by information held by the Scottish Government.

"Against this backdrop, it is unacceptable that the Justice Secretary hasn't had any conversations at ministerial level with his UK counterpart on this issue. The SNP Government have made no attempt to ensure that this Bill's information-sharing provisions will not be used to support proposals like the ID Card scheme which SNP Ministers claim to be against.

"The Justice Secretary must get to grips with the implications of the powers he is asking the Scottish Parliament to give away to UK Ministers in the Coroners and Justice Bill. He must ensure that these provisions cannot be used to prejudice individual privacy in areas devolved to the Scottish Parliament."