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Written question asked by Baroness Barker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 18 April 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 May 2016. It was answered by Lord Freud (Conservative) on Tuesday, 3 May 2016 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.


Transgender People: Data Protection

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice the Department for Work and Pensions gives to trans individuals about how their confidentiality is maintained by that department on its database.

Answer

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides its staff with information about providing services for transgender customers but does not provide information relating to data confidentiality specifically for transgender customers. DWP has a Personal Information Charter which informs all customers of the standards they can expect when we handle their personal information.

The DWP Special Customer Records (SCR) policy provides additional controls to transgender customers. These additional controls include clerical records being held securely by a senior manager, and access to computer records only being allowed to specific employees for specific business reasons and automatic notification of any unauthorised attempt to access records.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL7687
Session
2015-16
Subjects
Data protection Databases Department for Work and Pensions Transgender people
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk