Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Government's proposed welfare bank surveillance powers on the right to privacy.

DWP has no plans to create welfare bank surveillance powers.

If referring to DWP’s data gathering powers in the Data Protection Digital Information Bill the power has been assessed and is deemed to be compatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The power has been carefully assessed during the drafting process for compliance with Article 8 (respect for private life) and any exercise of the power would also be carefully assessed for compliance with the law.