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Written question asked by Oliver Heald (Conservative) on Monday, 5 February 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 7 February 2007. It was answered by Joan Ryan (Labour) on Monday, 19 February 2007 on behalf of the Home Office.

Data-sharing

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the European Union’s plans for EU data-sharing will entail the sharing of data held (a) in the National Identity Register, (b) on the National DNA database, (c) on the NHS Spine and (d) by the Valuation Office Agency.
Answer

There are a number of EU initiatives to improve information sharing in the area of Justice and Home Affairs. In principle the UK is keen to share information with EU partners that will add to our ability to protect the public, where the request is in the interest of prevention and detection of crime and taking account of the justification and proportionality of disclosure in accordance with human rights legislation. The Government are supportive of a current initiative by the German presidency of the EU to transpose parts of the Prüm Convention into EU law, which includes provisions on improving the sharing of DNA data.The provision of information from the National Identity Register will be regulated by the Identity Cards Act 2006 which includes no power for information to be given to foreign governments, except in the limited circumstances set out in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 relating to criminal proceedings carried out by law enforcement agencies overseas. Information about UK NHS patients is not shared with other European health administrations unless the patient has consented, and either has been referred for treatment to a provider in another European state or is seeking care from a provider in another European state (e.g. they are taken ill while abroad). I am not aware of any plans to share data held by the Valuation Office Agency.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
457 c96-7W;457 c98W; 119971
Session
2006-07
Subjects
Databases EU countries
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk