Datasharing
The Justice ministry confirmed today that Jack Straw has asked
cabinet colleagues to scrap
controversial clauses in a bill that permitted wholesale
sharing of personal data between government departments without the
subjects' knowledge.
The decision hands civil rights campaigners a partial victory. A
Justice spokesman said, "The Justice Secretary has asked cabinet
colleagues to withdraw clause 152 from the (Coroners & Justice)
Bill and launch a further consultation."
They wanted two other clauses, 153 and 154, as well as a whole
section of the bill scrapped.
Virtually the entire medical profession as well as the Bar
Council and Information Commissioner's Office had come out against
the clauses, warning that they could undermine public trust in
government information systems and lead to a Big Brother
society.
"Absolutely no part of the purpose of this legislation was to
extend a Big Brother society - quite the reverse - but I understand
people's anxiety," Straw told the Observer.
Straw will now ask information commissioner Richard Thomas to
run the next consultation. This would clarify where government
bodies could share information - for example, to provide a single
point to report a death in the family.
The Scottish government last week to withdraw its support for
the bill.