Data Protection Act

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Index of content

• Who does it affect?
• Wiltshire Council and Data Protection
• The 8 principles of Data Protection
• What do we do with your information?
• The Information Commissioner’s Office
• Privacy Notices (previously known as Fair Processing Notices)

Who does it affect?

Everybody!

As an individual many organisations will have your personal details. For example, your bank, the council, insurance companies, supermarkets and so on.

Wiltshire Council and Data Protection

Wiltshire Council is committed to compliance with all requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Wiltshire Council regards the protection of people’s data as important, not only for improving confidence in the council but for improving the quality of service provided. The council is committed to openness and following the requirements of the Act will help to achieve this.

Wiltshire Council will implement and follow procedures that aim to make sure all employees, elected members, volunteers, contractors, agents, consultants and partners and other persons that have access to personal data held by or on behalf of the council are made aware of their responsibilities and fulfill their duties under the Act.

The 8 principles of Data Protection

Personal data must be:

1. fairly and lawfully processed
2. processed for limited purposes
3. adequate, relevant and not excessive
4. accurate
5. not kept for longer than is necessary
6. processed in line with the data subject’s (individual’s) rights
7. secure
8. not transferred to countries outside of the EU without adequate protection (this will affect information on the internet/website)

What do we do with your information?

Wiltshire Council is an organisation that provides services for the people and local communities. The day-to-day work of the council involves collecting and using information about the people whom we provide services to and with whom we work.

There will be personal information on forms, claims, school records, planning applications, personnel records and so on.

A lot of the time Wiltshire Council uses personal data for services it is required to provide by law, and therefore has no choice. However, there may be times that the service is not essential and you can opt in or out.

The Information Commissioner’s Office

The Information Commissioner enforces and oversees the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.

The Commissioner is a UK independent supervisory authority, which reports directly to the UK Parliament and has both an international and national role.

Privacy Notices (previously known as Fair Processing Notices)

The council (also called the Local Authority or LA) uses information about children for whom it provides services, to help it to carry out specific functions for which it is responsible.

In addition, to meet requirements imposed by the Data Protection Act 1998 and updated September 2010, schools need to issue a Privacy Notice (PN) to parents summarising the information held about pupils, why it is held and the third parties to whom it may be passed on.

• Local Authority Privacy Notice Local Authority Privacy Notice 30kb
• Example School Privacy Notice 27kb

Last updated: 1 May 2012