Blunkett's data sharing 'concern'

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Former home secretary David Blunkett has expressed concerns whether proposed new data sharing powers are justified and if they could be misused.

Mr Blunkett said ministers must clarify "how, when and why" personal data could be shared between organisations.

Proposals allowing ministers to agree to data being used for purposes other than it was first intended must be "examined and modified", he added.

Ministers say any use of data must be proportionate and transparent.

'Simple purposes'

Newspaper reports in recent days have suggested the government will amend aspects of the Coroners and Justice Bill currently before Parliament to strengthen public safeguards over data use.

Civil liberties campaigners are concerned that the principle that data collected for one purpose cannot then be used for another is under threat.

As currently drafted, ministers would be able to apply for orders to remove data protection restrictions preventing the use of information for secondary purposes in certain circumstances.

It is not simply whether the intentions are benign but whether they are likely to be misused and above all what value their use may have David Blunkett

Mr Blunkett said Justice Secretary Jack Straw was "well aware" of concerns about the proposal and that it needed to be "examined thoroughly" and, if necessary, changed.

"Clarity of why, when and with whom data can be shared is urgently needed," he said in a lecture at the University of Essex.

"It is not simply whether the intentions are benign - undoubtedly they are - but whether they are likely to be misused and above all what value their use may have."

While it was "perfectly reasonable" to gather and share information in certain circumstances, Mr Blunkett said he feared too much information was now being held that was of little use.

"Government centralised databases should be confined to where it is necessary to be able to easily and quickly access for simple purposes, rather than for matters relating to national security."

He added there was a "real fear" that information collected to issue future biometric passports and ID cards could be misused.

An influential House of Lords committee warned recently that surveillance and data collection had become "pervasive" in the UK and many people did not realise how much of their personal information was kept and exchanged by various bodies.

The government is consulting on plans to create a giant database of mobile phone and text communications which it says is necessary to fight terrorism and serious crime.

Ministers say only the times of calls, not their content, will be logged but critics have warned they will fight the idea should it be included in future legislation.