ICO defends privacy interest over benefit crackdown

13 Aug 2010 12:33 PM

A spokesperson for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) said:

“The ICO is seeking further clarification from the Department of Work and
Pensions in relation to the government’s proposal to use information provided
by credit reference agencies to combat benefit fraud. The Data Protection Act
is not a barrier to sensible information sharing and some sharing already
takes place with credit reference agencies. However it appears that the
latest proposals may go further. The details in relation to these plans
therefore need to be further explored.

“Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, has written to the Welfare
Reform Minister Lord Freud suggesting a meeting. ‘I hope the Government is
going to hold to the good practice of considering the data protection
implications of policies at the earliest stage,’ the Commissioner says.
“A common sense approach should be applied to information sharing. This
includes letting people know how their information will be processed. Most
organisations make it clear that should they need to they will share details
with authorities for the prevention and detection of crime. It is reasonable to
expect that if you are committing benefit fraud your details will be shared
with the appropriate authorities dealing with this. But any information sharing
should be made clear in privacy policies. Credit reference agencies handle
sensitive personal information. We work closely with the agencies and
industry representatives to ensure the industry complies with the
requirements of the Act.”

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025 7580.

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team on 0303 123 1113.