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| Whitehall plan for huge database | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A giant database of people's personal details could be created at Whitehall under government plans which ministers say will help improve public services. | A giant database of people's personal details could be created at Whitehall under government plans which ministers say will help improve public services. |
| Tony Blair is expected to unveil the proposal in Downing Street on Monday. | |
| Strict regulations currently prevent one part of government sharing personal information it holds with another. | Strict regulations currently prevent one part of government sharing personal information it holds with another. |
| Ministers argue the data-sharing rules are "overzealous" but the Conservatives say relaxing them would be "an excuse for bureaucrats to snoop". | Ministers argue the data-sharing rules are "overzealous" but the Conservatives say relaxing them would be "an excuse for bureaucrats to snoop". |
| So-called "citizens panels" will gauge public reaction to relaxing privacy procedures so people do not have to repeat personal information to different public bodies - particularly at times of stress such as a family death. | So-called "citizens panels" will gauge public reaction to relaxing privacy procedures so people do not have to repeat personal information to different public bodies - particularly at times of stress such as a family death. |
| Step by step, the government is logging details of every man, woman and child in 'Big Brother' computers Oliver HealdConservatives | Step by step, the government is logging details of every man, woman and child in 'Big Brother' computers Oliver HealdConservatives |
| Officials think current rules are an obstacle to improving public services. | Officials think current rules are an obstacle to improving public services. |
| But such data-sharing is controversial. As well as criticism from the Conservatives, the information commissioner - the data watchdog - has warned Britain may be "sleepwalking into a surveillance society". | But such data-sharing is controversial. As well as criticism from the Conservatives, the information commissioner - the data watchdog - has warned Britain may be "sleepwalking into a surveillance society". |
| The idea of allowing different Whitehall departments to access centrally-held data emerged during the government's policy review of public services. | The idea of allowing different Whitehall departments to access centrally-held data emerged during the government's policy review of public services. |
| The review team, headed by Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton, has concluded that it is difficult for services to be as flexible and light-footed as people want because of rules on data. | The review team, headed by Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton, has concluded that it is difficult for services to be as flexible and light-footed as people want because of rules on data. |
| The department cites an example of a family who had a total of 44 contacts with government over 180 days trying to make the necessary arrangements after a family member died in a road accident. | The department cites an example of a family who had a total of 44 contacts with government over 180 days trying to make the necessary arrangements after a family member died in a road accident. |
| Too often, says the review team, it may be legally forbidden to use information other than for a single purpose. | Too often, says the review team, it may be legally forbidden to use information other than for a single purpose. |
| At other times services may assume there is a legal barrier when there is none. | At other times services may assume there is a legal barrier when there is none. |
| Individual privacy | Individual privacy |
| And sometimes, the review found, the traditional culture of separate government departments contributes to delays and barriers. | And sometimes, the review found, the traditional culture of separate government departments contributes to delays and barriers. |
| However, the government wants to involve the public in deciding how to balance individual privacy against possible improvements in customer care in the public sector. | However, the government wants to involve the public in deciding how to balance individual privacy against possible improvements in customer care in the public sector. |
| Five citizens' panels of 100 people are being recruited by the polling organisation Ipsos Mori. | Five citizens' panels of 100 people are being recruited by the polling organisation Ipsos Mori. |
| In a process known as "deliberative democracy", the panels will be briefed on the pros and cons of different approaches to public services and then invited to make their decision. | In a process known as "deliberative democracy", the panels will be briefed on the pros and cons of different approaches to public services and then invited to make their decision. |
| Their views, say ministers, will then feed into government policy. | Their views, say ministers, will then feed into government policy. |
| Among the issues the panels will consider are: the role of the citizen and state; rights and responsibilities; and customer care within public services including the idea of data-sharing. | Among the issues the panels will consider are: the role of the citizen and state; rights and responsibilities; and customer care within public services including the idea of data-sharing. |
| ID fraud | ID fraud |
| This is not the first time the government has proposed sharing sensitive personal information between Whitehall departments. | This is not the first time the government has proposed sharing sensitive personal information between Whitehall departments. |
| Last year the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) claimed relaxing rules on data-sharing would help tackle ID fraud and would also identify those "in need". | Last year the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) claimed relaxing rules on data-sharing would help tackle ID fraud and would also identify those "in need". |
| That idea was attacked by the Conservatives. Shadow constitutional affairs secretary Oliver Heald said: "Step by step, the government is logging details of every man, woman and child in 'Big Brother' computers." | That idea was attacked by the Conservatives. Shadow constitutional affairs secretary Oliver Heald said: "Step by step, the government is logging details of every man, woman and child in 'Big Brother' computers." |
| Information Commissioner Richard Thomas, who is charged with ensuring the state does not collect too much information about citizens, has also been critical of data-sharing and already expressed concern at the "Citizen's Information Project". | Information Commissioner Richard Thomas, who is charged with ensuring the state does not collect too much information about citizens, has also been critical of data-sharing and already expressed concern at the "Citizen's Information Project". |
| That is a plan by the Office for National Statistics to create a population database for use by public services. | That is a plan by the Office for National Statistics to create a population database for use by public services. |
| "There are reasons why we need to promote better information," Mr Thomas said, "but whether the right answer is to create a database should be questioned." | "There are reasons why we need to promote better information," Mr Thomas said, "but whether the right answer is to create a database should be questioned." |