WIREDGOV

DFM restates personal privacy pledge.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has given a commitment to protecting personal privacy and restated the Scottish Government’s opposition to ID cards.

Speaking ahead of a Parliamentary debate on privacy, Mr Swinney gave an undertaking that all contributions to the consultation exercise will be carefully considered and restated the Scottish Government’s unequivocal commitment to the protection of privacy.

The Deputy First Minister repeated his assurance that decisions on personal data will be made in a manner consistent with the Scottish Government’s long-standing commitment to protect privacy.

Mr Swinney said:

“We prize our freedom and our privacy in Scotland. Quite rightly, we guard it ferociously and are vigilant about protecting our personal information.

“I can re-state our commitment today that under this Scottish Government there will never be ID cards or anything remotely resembling them.

“We cherish personal privacy and will protect it. Indeed, it was this government that took the initiative in 2009 to set up an expert group to develop Identity Management and Privacy Principles – principles published in 2010, and updated in 2014.

“We will continue to lead good practice and act in a way that is consistent with these principles.

“We are not and we will not create a new database.

“We will not be sharing health records.

“We will listen carefully to all consultation responses.

“And we will act in a manner that is consistent with our long-standing principles in protecting personal data.

“Decisions will only be taken after full scrutiny by Parliament of any eventual proposals. That is the principle upon which our government is run and will remain so.”