Data legislation

THE Home Office is introducing new legislation to make audit trail data from the ID database available to, among others, HM Revenue & Customs. The audit trail will comprise sensitive personal information: details about bank accounts, credit applications, financial transactions, visits to hospitals and clinics, travel details, hotel stays, etc.

HMRC is the organisation that lost 25 million people's personal records, including banking details, when it sent the child benefit database through the post on unencrypted CDs.

Parliament must not just rubber stamp this measure. The plug must be pulled on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's latest legislation.

(DR) GERAINT BEVAN

NO2ID Scotland

Grovepark Gardens

Glasgow