I share these concerns over the use of Government
information. The idea, and practice, of using one one
source of personal information as a source for multiple
databases is both wrong, and against the whole idea of data
protection. The data protection act states that information
given for one purpose can only be used for that purpose
unless it is made clear at the time that it will be used
for other purposes. Hence the need to ensure that you
always tick the VERY SMALL box at the bottom of most data
forms which says do you agree.
What is even more worrying is this Government's failure to
respond to questions about this. I wrote to my MP, Ben
Bradshaw, in May. Asking for answers to various questions
on this topic, including the price of accessing databases,
to check that information was correct. To date, I have
nothing in any form of a reply from him. Which I think
speaks volumes in its self.
As for moving quickly, the fact that some By-Elections have
been brought forward, see :http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3835281.stm

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 17:04:00 +0100 Chris Armstrong
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Continuing my interest in this area and my concerns about Government data
> sharing (see my Headline on www.i-a-l.co.uk), I was intrigued by a
> headline in CILIP's 24th June Daily News:
>
> > Knowing me, knowing you
> > Larger databases, which are increasingly connected...
>
> The article at:
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1245483,00.html
> begins:
> "If you vote, you can do so because your name is on an electoral roll, a
> database managed by your council. That database is to become national or
> part of a linked national system. Meanwhile, your council is probably
> joining up much of the data it holds on you."
>
> I remain convinced - the more so given the Information Commissioner's
> concern about 'Function creep' in such databases - that the information
> profession and UKOLUG/CILIP need to keep abreast of, and lobby on, these
> issues.
>
> The government has said, and I have seen some evidence of it, that members
> of the public are to be informed about how personal data is to be used and
> shared. But I wonder how many readers knew that the local electoral
> register is to be shared around the country?
>
> Those of you who read News@UKOLUG will see in the next issue that I was
> the victim of some errant data sharing recently when I received a
> certificate for free prescriptions - presumably because the agency that
> hands them out made a mistake in reading the Tax Office data they use!
>
> The Guardian article is quite scary! It goes on to talk about a project
> that:
> "would allow you to change your address across all state agencies in one
> go, while the NHS Care Records Service will make your medical notes
> available to any walk-in centre or A&E ward you visit."
>
> See how easily that error can be shared!
>
> At the Government consultancy exercise on this information sharing, I and
> others voiced concerns about this and suggested that each citizen should
> have the right to examine data held about them, without cost and easily -
> perhaps at post offices - in order to prevent errors being compounded.
>
> But we seem to be moving well beyond the consultation already. Sometimes,
> its quite amazing how fast things move in government!
>
> Chris Armstrong
> UKOLUG Vice Chair
> UK eInformation Group
> [log in to unmask]

----------------------
Jim Jackson
C/O The Law Library
University of Exeter
Rennes Drive             Tel:44(0) 1392 263356
Exeter.
EX4 4RJ                  Fax:44(0) 1392 263196


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Any Opinions expressed in this message are my own,
and not those of the University of Exeter. They do not form any statement
by the University of Exeter or any other member there of.