Local Authority Social Services depts receive these sort of requests about birth parents or other family members on a regular basis. If the
individual can produce a copy of the death certificate - it will be exempt from DP legislation so problem will disappear.
I would suggest that you look at the nature of information held and then depending on what it is look at Section 7(4) and 7(6) of DPA which will give
you guidance on disclosing with or without consent and the duty of confidentiality owed to an individual.
In deciding to disclose make sure you document the reasoning - the best you can do is to show that you have taken every care possible in all of the
circumstances.
Ed
>>> Lisa Strachan <[log in to unmask]> 11/12/01 12:58pm >>>
Our archive has had an enquiry recently which has led to a great
deal of discussion and no conclusion so I was hoping someone out
there would have a definitive and, of course, blindingly obvious
answer. The request is from a son for his father's employment
record from a collection we hold. There is very little information
indeed on the actual record but it does include his date of birth
[1921]. The son has said that his father is dead but we have no
proof of the death or even of the relationship. Where do we stand
in relation to this information? can we assume death after a certain
age as a policy [although i think i'd pick something higher than
80]? should we ask to see a death certificate for the father? It
does seem like a lot of effort and possible pain being involved for a
minute amount of information but we wouldn't wish to set an ill-
judged precedent. if anyone can help, i'd appreciate it.
lisa
Lisa Strachan
Senior Records Management Assistant
Dundee University Archives
Tower Building
Nethergate
Dundee DD1 4HN
Scotland
tel: +44 [0]1382 344095/345615
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