Some work that I have been doing has drawn my attention to the question of
the uses that can be made of Council Tax Information.
I have come across the Press Release of 26.1.07 from the ICO
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/pressreleases/2007/new_guidance_for_local_authorities_council_tax.pdf
"New guidance for local authorities on use of residents' council tax
information"
"Council tax information, such as residents' names and addresses, collected
by local authorities can be used for other purposes, according to new
guidance published by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The
guidance outlines how this information can be used in a way that complies
with the Data Protection Act."
This refers to the Technical Guidance Note at
http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/detailed_specialist_guides/use_of_personal_information_held_for_collecting_and_admini%E2%80%A6.pdf
(http://preview.tinyurl.com/3at6cg)
"The use of personal information held for collecting and administering
Council Tax"
There does seem a very important paragraph in this:
"We cannot provide any assurance that a local authority using Council Tax
information for other purposes will not be acting unlawfully by exceeding
its powers. Authorities that are in doubt about this should seek their own
legal advice. However, we can explain the circumstances in which the Data
Protection Act 1998 (the Act) limits the wider use of Council Tax
information. In particular, we can explain the circumstances in which we
will use our statutory enforcement powers to prevent a particular use of
Council Tax information.
Regards
Nick Landau
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