To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice what guidance (a) her Department and (b) the Information Commissioner has produced on the requirements on councillors to register under the Data Protection Act 1998 when acting in their capacity as a representative of the residents of their ward. (143660)

My Department has not issued any guidance on this issue.

The Information Commissioner's Office published updated guidance on 17 May 2007 which included advice to elected and prospective members of local authorities on how registration under the Data Protection Act 1998 applies to them. The guidance can be found on the Commissioner's website at

http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/data_protection/practical_application/advice_elected_and_prospective_members_local_authorities.pdf.