To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what data information systems his Department has (a) agreed and (b) been consulted about with a view to taking part in; what are the criteria for inclusion in such systems; whether they will be linked to (i) the police national computer and (ii) other computer systems; what data protection provisions apply to them; and if he will make a statement.

The central Treasury has two major applications which both accept and transmit electronic data. The financial information system takes in and then confirms with Departments their planned and current expenditure. The Treasury economic service accepts financial and economic data from both governmental—for example, Central Statistical Office—and commercial sources—for example, the Financial Times, Reuters, and so on.Computer centre Chessington interchanges information with other Government Departments and associated bodies in connection with pay, personnel and financial accounting computer systems. No Treasury data information systems are linked to the PNC; nor is there any intention that they should be.The administration of all Treasury data information systems complies with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1984.