Hansard

Data Protection

Volume 375: debated on Friday 23 November 2001

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Harry Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many names and addresses of vehicle owners/keepers have been disclosed to third parties by virtue of that party showing reasonable cause for the disclosure over the last three years, broken down into terms of categories of reasonable cause; if the DVLA alerts third parties to the offence under section 55 of the Data Protection Act 1998; if he has undertaken data matching exercises to identify those who might be using the third party facility as a means of tracing individuals who do not want to be traced; and if he will make a statement. [17168]

Mr. Jamieson

The number of "reasonable cause" requests for information processed against the DVLA vehicle register during the last three years are:

Number of requests
1998–99830,970
1999–2000883,522
2000–01955,484
Specific categories of reasonable cause are not recorded and it is not possible to break down the statistics in this
SchemeTimetable
Sunderland Extension to Tyne and Wear MetroUnder construction, due to open March 2002
Nottingham Express TransitUnder construction, due to open in 2003
Three extensions to Manchester Metrolink1Approved, construction should begin in 2003
Leeds Supertram (Three lines)Approved, construction should begin in 2003
South Hampshire Rapid TransitApproved, construction should begin in 2003
1 Oldham-Rochdale, Airport and Ashton-under-Lyne
In addition, we have given provisional approval to two extensions to the Midland Metro system in Birmingham. The promoters are now seeking the necessary powers under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (TWA). The Docklands Light Rail extension to City airport has also received provisional approval, subject to TWA powers being granted.At present, we are considering proposals for the Bristol and South Gloucestershire light rapid transit scheme; a further extension to the Manchester Metrolink to Stockport; the Merseytram project and an upgrade of the Blackpool tramway. Transport for Landon is consulting on options for intermediate-mode transport for four corridors: East London transit, Uxbridge road, Cross River transit, and Greenwich waterfront.

way. Most of the inquiries are made by insurance companies and finance houses in relation to insurance claims and vehicle-related loan arrangements. The information is released, often via electronic links, under strictly defined terms and conditions, which specify the security and confidentiality of the information handled and subject to periodic audit. Information is released to around 2,500 private individuals each year. Applicants must give a full written explanation for their inquiry, and they are warned directly of the consequences under the Data Protection Act of unlawfully procuring information. The agency has not identified a need to carry out any formal matching exercises to identify inappropriate inquiries, but it does work closely with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner to facilitate the prosecution of the handful of offences that come to light each year.