Yesterday, Wednesday 29 November, Parliament debated the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill. Stephen spoke in the debate to criticise wide-ranging powers that Government amendments to the bill would give ministers to inspect the bank accounts of people on social security.
The Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill aims to create a new regime for digital rights and data protection in the UK. Ahead of its third reading in Parliament, the Government proposed new amendments, including New Clause 34, that would grant ministers the power to inspect the bank accounts of people claiming benefits and the State Pension.
The Government argues that the powers to inspect social security claimants bank accounts are to reduce fraud and error. However, there are no clear safeguards to the powers and ministers only admitted that the powers would include people claiming the State Pension when questioned by Stephen in the House of Commons. The Minister also could not give an example of where those powers would be used.
“The proposal in the Bill is for surveillance where there is absolutely no suspicion at all, which is a substantial expansion of the state’s powers to intrude,” Stephen said.
“I think that all of us would agree, whatever party we are in, that the powers of the state should be limited to those absolutely necessary. The power in the new clause is definitely not absolutely necessary.”