Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 27 November 1997, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 4 December 1997. It was answered by Robin Cook (Labour) on Thursday, 4 December 1997 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what guidance has been given to employees at GCHQ in respect of the Data Protection Act 1984.

Answer: Mr. Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance has been given to employees at GCHQ in respect of the Data Protection Act 1984. [18688] Mr. Robin Cook: All staff were informed in 1986 that personal data held by GCHQ are exempt from operative parts of the Data Protection Act 1984 because that exemption is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security. The guidance said that the spirit of the Act would be applied so far as serving staff members were concerned, in that they would be given access to personal data held on data bases in the same way as they would have been had the Act been in force.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 18688; 302 c301-2W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Disclosure of information Data protection Intelligence services GCHQ National security
Legislation: Data Protection Act 1984