UK Parliament / Open data

Data Protection Bill [HL]

Proceeding contribution from Viscount Hailsham (Conservative) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 10 January 2018. It occurred during Debate on bills on Data Protection Bill [HL].

My Lords, I will speak briefly, both to the proposed new clause in the amendment moved by the noble Baroness and the proposed new clause moved by my noble friend.

I am against the suggestion that we should have an inquiry. I share the view of the noble Lord, Lord Pannick, that we know enough already. The facts have been canvassed time and time again, in inquiry, in criminal cases and in civil cases, and the time has now come for policy. We do not need new facts—we need a policy decision, and that is essentially a matter for government and Parliament. If we call for a further inquiry, the policy decisions will be postponed. A further point is that, if the proposed new clause is carried, the pressure will be on a judge-led inquiry. In the generality, I am against judge-led inquiries when they address matters of major general policy. Judges are good at identifying facts and deficiencies in existing legislation, but they are not well placed to address general policy issues.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

788 c226 

Session

2017-19

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber
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