Data (Use and Access) Bill [HL]

Baroness Morris of Bolton Excerpts

Report stage
Tuesday 21st January 2025 Lords Chamber

[The Minister of State, Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (Lord Vallance of Balham) (Lab)]

My Lords, government Amendment 18—

[The Deputy Speaker (Baroness Morris of Bolton) (Con)]

I call on the noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones, to speak to Amendment 17.

Amendment 17

Moved by

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Clement-Jones (LD)]

I apologise for interrupting the Minister, in what sounded almost like full flow. I am sure that he was so eager to move his amendment.

In moving Amendment 17, I will speak also to Amendment 21. These aim to remove the Secretary of State’s power to override primary legislation and modify key aspects of the UK data protection law via statutory instruments. They are similar to those proposed by me to the previous Government’s Data Protection and Digital Information Bill, which the noble Baroness, Lady Jones of Whitchurch, then in opposition, supported. These relate to Clauses 70(4) and 71(5).

There are a number of reasons to support accepting these amendments. The Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee has expressed concerns about the broad scope of the Secretary of State’s powers, as it did previously in relation to the DBS scheme. It recommended removing the power from the previous Bill, and in its ninth report it maintains this view for the current Bill. The Constitution Committee has said likewise; I will not read out what it said at the time, but I think all noble Lords know that both committees were pretty much on the same page.

The noble Baroness, Lady Jones, on the previous DPDI Bill, argued that there was no compelling reason for introducing recognised legitimate interests. On these Benches, we agree. The existing framework already allows for data sharing with the public sector and data use for national security, crime detection and safeguarding vulnerable individuals. However, the noble Baroness, in her ministerial capacity, argued that swift changes might be needed—hence the necessity for the Secretary of State’s power. Nevertheless, the DPRRC’s view is that the grounds for the lawful processing of personal data are fundamental and should not be subject to modification by subordinate legislation.

The letter from the Minister, the noble Lord, Lord Vallance, to the Constitution Committee and the DPRRC pretty much reiterates those arguments. I will not go through all of it again, but I note, in closing, that in his letter he said:

“I hope it will reassure the Committee that the power will be used only when necessary and in the public interest”.


He could have come forward with an amendment to that effect at any point in the passage of the Bill, but he has not. I hope that, on reflection—in the light of both committees’ repeated recommendations, the potential threats to individual privacy and data adequacy, and the lack of strong justification for these powers—the Minister will accept these two amendments. I beg to move.

[The Deputy Speaker (Baroness Morris of Bolton) (Con)]

My Lords, I must inform the House that if Amendment 17 is agreed to, I cannot call Amendment 18 for reasons of pre-emption.