Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Lord Maclennan of Rogart (Liberal Democrat), on Wednesday, 12 June 1991, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 131 members in total.

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THE EEC DIRECTIVE ON DATA PROTECTION AND THE UK VOLUNTARY SECTOR

That this House welcomes the European Community Commission's concern to ensure appropriate protection for the general public within its draft directive on data protection; regrets that the main emphasis of the draft directive as it relates to direct mail concentrates on regulation of every day use of direct mail as opposed to misuse of data; believes that the use of direct mailing techniques by the voluntary sector in the United Kingdom is a legitimate way of raising and distributing enormous resources in the other-than-for-profit sector; further believes that it is the misuse of data which damages an otherwise effective, efficient and appropriate form of communication between members, supporters and donors of non-profit groups; is concerned that the directive, as currently drafted, will be counter-productive to the agreed end of seeking to eradicate mis-directed and unwanted communication with individuals,and, furthermore, that it will severely restrict the voluntary sector's ability to raise funds and therefore carry out its charitable work; welcomes the establishment of CHANGE (Charities and Non-profit Groups in Europe) by the British voluntary sector; and support CHANGE's call for the Directive to be amended in favour of regulation against data misuse through a European-wide mailing preference service requiring mandatory registration.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

945 

Session

1990-91

Subjects

Data protection Direct marketing EU action Voluntary organisations

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk