Local Transport Bill [HL]

I am delighted that the noble Earl had the opportunity through this amendment to raise the issue in the way that he did, and his explanation was clear enough. I understand the concerns that were raised. The noble Baroness, Lady Scott, put them in the context of data transfer and loss of data, and I understand why she made that point. It is worth reminding ourselves about the purpose of the clause, which is to safeguard the rights of the private citizen. For example, if a member of the public is unlucky enough to suffer a ““hit and run”” involving a foreign-registered vehicle in a car park, the police are unlikely to become involved unless there is some physical injury. If the police were not involved, how else would that person be able to seek justice unless the Secretary of State could disclose information to them? That would be the consequence of accepting this amendment. We need to understand what it would do. Also, citizens currently are able to obtain information from the UK register of vehicles if they can demonstrate they have reasonable cause. However, they do have to demonstrate that they have reasonable cause. It would be inequitable not to allow the same access in relation to foreign-registered vehicles. The noble Earl mentioned the operation of certain parking enforcement companies, and I understand why he did so. As a result of the concerns raised two years ago about the operation of the reasonable cause provision, the Government reviewed those provisions in relation to the release of data from the UK vehicle register. As a result, my honourable friend the Minister for Transport announced 14 new measures to protect vehicle keepers from misuse of their information and to provide clear and robust complaint procedures where misuse is alleged, while still allowing those who do have reasonable cause to get the data they need. Those procedures were introduced in October last year and are working well. I assure the noble Earl that those same enhanced procedures would apply to the release of information on foreign-registered vehicles as well. The department continues to engage with stakeholders on the issue and to work with them to understand their concerns as we develop our thinking on how best to protect privacy, and we work with the Information Commissioner’s Office to ensure that its proposals address privacy concerns and conform in practice with the Data Protection Act. Our guidance to local authorities that seek transport innovation funding on road-pricing schemes encourages scheme operators to offer a range of methods of payment, including options that will allow them to maximise the privacy of personal information. No doubt this is an issue to which we will return because the retention of data, their use, transfer and storage, and the contractors that have access to them, are very much topics of current debate. I do not see that that debate will go away. Important issues remain to be resolved, including, no doubt, some technical issues. I hope the noble Earl accepts that we must safeguard the needs of the private citizen by allowing those with reasonable cause to receive information about foreign-registered vehicles. There is a balance to be struck. I have given assurances, and I hope that in those circumstances the noble Earl will feel able to withdraw the amendment.