Data Protection Bill [HL] Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateLord Swinfen
Main Page: Lord Swinfen (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)Department Debates - View all Lord Swinfen's debates with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
(6 years, 7 months ago)
Lords ChamberMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for bringing this issue to the attention of the House. It is my understanding that, by invoking the UNCRC, we are talking about children being people under the age of 18. I would very much welcome the Minister’s saying that that extends beyond Clause 124, which we brought forward, to everywhere in the Bill that “children” is mentioned.
My Lords, can the Minister tell the House at what age the United Nations considers that a child ceases to be a child?
My Lords, Clause 124(4)(b) refers to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which defines a child as a person under the age of 18, so we can assume that that is the working principle. Clause 124, introduced at a previous stage by an amendment from the noble Baroness, Lady Kidron, talks about age-appropriate design, and so presumably that means appropriate at different ages—for example, safeguards for those aged 12 will be different from those for people aged 16 and 18. Bearing in mind the United Nations convention definition, will the Minister confirm that that is the working principle for this Bill?