---

Department for Transport Data Storage and Use

I thank my hon. Friend for her comments, and I know how interested she is in the issue of shared services. The particular incident to which I referred in my statement is somewhat different; it concerns how data are backed up by the Driving Standards Agency's external contractors and the procedures that are followed to ensure that those data are properly protected. As I have said, Pearson has been asked to notify the police. The Driving Standards Agency has already instituted a data protection audit of Pearson and is monitoring the contract in that light. These specific data were not readily accessible to third parties. However, she is right that there are lessons to be learned, not just by my Department and its agencies, but across Government. As part of the Cabinet Secretary's review, I am of course making recommendations drawn from the lessons of this experience and learning from other Departments about the sorts of measures that we ought to have in place.