Immigration (Supply of Information to the Secretary of State for Immigration Purposes) Order 2008

I am most grateful to the Minister for his comprehensive explanation of the measure. The Official Opposition do not object in principle to the Secretary of State being given as much information as is legally held that might help in ensuring our immigration laws are upheld and enforced. It is clear that the information which can be supplied by the wider spread of network of the DWP, the DVLA, the MCA and the British Transport Police can in certain circumstances add to the effectiveness of the UK Border Agency, which must surely be a cause for all-party support. I am grateful to the Minister for amplifying particularly the question of the driving licences, which he rightly recognises as one of the key identification documents. The Minister in the other place yesterday gave some idea of the numbers and the progress being made. If he can give any further details of that, it would be helpful to the Committee. My other point has been gone over many times during the past year. It is clear that the transfer of data between holding authorities is not without its hazards, as has been painfully shown. Once data leave a department, which will have its own security in place—I am obliged to the Minister for confirming that those procedures are being tightened up—they must by the very circumstances of the migration be potentially less secure. Your Lordships will be aware that the Information Commissioner has been highly critical in his latest reports of two departments in particular. The Cabinet Secretary was yesterday asked some fairly direct questions by the committee and gave assurances which the Minister has echoed today. I am grateful for the Minister’s explanation and his assurance that the problem is being addressed with the greatest urgency.