Session 2010 - 12
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Other Bills before Parliament


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 12 May 2011                     

258

 

Protection of Freedoms Bill, continued

 
 

Privacy Commissioner

 

Mr Tom Watson

 

John Robertson

 

NC5

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State shall appoint a Commissioner to be known as the Privacy

 

Commissioner (referred to in this section as “the Commissioner”).

 

(2)    

It shall be the duty to the Commissioner to promote respect for individual privacy

 

and data protection.

 

(3)    

The Commissioner shall have all the duties and functions set out in—

 

(a)    

section 51 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (Data Protection

 

Commissioner),

 

(b)    

section 57 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

 

(Interception of Communications Commissioner),

 

(c)    

section 91 of the Police Act 1997 and section 62 of the Regulation of

 

Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (Chief Surveillance Commissioner),

 

(d)    

section 20 of this Act (Commissioner for the Retention and Use of

 

Biometric Material), and

 

(e)    

section 34 of this Act (Surveillance Camera Commissioner).

 

(4)    

The Commissioner shall have all the powers which attach to the offices set out in

 

subsection (3).

 

(5)    

The Commissioner shall arrange for the dissemination in such form and manner

 

as he considers appropriate of such information as it may appear to him expedient

 

to give to the public about any matter within the scope of his functions under this

 

Act, and may give advice to any person as to any of those matters.

 

(6)    

Any reference in any enactment, instrument or other document to a person

 

carrying out the duties and functions set out in subsection (3) shall be construed,

 

in relation to any time after the commencement of this section, as a reference to

 

the Commissioner.

 

(7)    

Any appointment made to any of the offices set out in subsection (3) is hereby

 

terminated.’.

 


 

Personal data

 

Mr Tom Watson

 

John Robertson

 

NC6

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

In section 1(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998 (basic interpretative provisions),

 

for the definition of “personal data” substitute—

 

““personal data” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Directive,

 

but shall not be taken to mean that the information must be biographical

 

in nature, compromise the privacy of the data subject or have the data

 

subject as its principal focus.”.’.

 



 
 

Public Bill Committee: 12 May 2011                     

259

 

Protection of Freedoms Bill, continued

 
 

Signage required where parking facilities are made available to the public

 

Mr Tom Watson

 

NC7

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

Where a facility for parking on private land is made available to the public, or a

 

specific group of persons, due warning of the terms and conditions for that

 

parking will be prominently displayed, as a minimum, at all entrances. This must

 

include, but is not limited to, the following:

 

(a)    

notice of the ban on clamping, towing and immobilisation to highlight

 

that it is now a criminal offence,

 

(b)    

the hours during which parking is permitted,

 

(c)    

any restriction on who is permitted to park,

 

(d)    

any restriction on the length of time parking is permitted,

 

(e)    

whether any additional consideration is extended to disabled drivers

 

displaying a blue badge,

 

(f)    

the cost, if any, of parking and any charges made for breach of parking

 

conditions,

 

(g)    

the manner in which drivers will be informed of any breach of parking

 

conditions,

 

(h)    

the full name and contact details, including a geographical address for the

 

business offering the contract to park.’.

 


 

Ticketing of vehicles left on land

 

Mr Tom Watson

 

NC8

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The creditor has the right to claim payment of any unpaid parking charges from

 

the driver of the vehicle. That right applies only if the following conditions are

 

met—

 

(a)    

the creditor has the right to enforce against the driver of the vehicle the

 

terms of the relevant contract which require the unpaid parking charges

 

to be paid;

 

(b)    

a notice that contains the information specified in sub-paragraph (3

 

“notice to the driver”) has been given to the driver by or on behalf of the

 

creditor;

 

(c)    

where the driver challenges whether the correct notice was served at the

 

time of the claimed infringement, the onus of proof rests with the

 

creditor.

 

(2)    

The notice must—

 

(a)    

state that by virtue of a contract the driver is required to pay parking

 

charges in respect of the parking of the vehicle on that land on such day

 

or days as the notice may specify;

 

(b)    

describe the circumstances in which the contract was formed, the terms

 

which required the driver to pay those charges and the facts that make

 

them payable;


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 12 May 2011                     

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Protection of Freedoms Bill, continued

 
 

(c)    

state the total amount of unpaid parking charges due from the driver and

 

a breakdown of the charges in terms of costs and damages suffered (as at

 

such time as may be specified in the notice, which must be no later than

 

the time specifed under paragraph (g));

 

(d)    

inform the driver of the arrangements for the resolution of disputes of

 

complaints available under subsection (4);

 

(e)    

inform the driver of any discount offered for prompt payment;

 

(f)    

specify how and to whom payment may be made;

 

(g)    

state the time and date on which the notice was issued.’.

 


 

Redress

 

Mr Tom Watson

 

NC9

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘The Secretary of State shall make provision for the purpose of providing

 

independent redress, which is free to consumers and funded through the industry,

 

where the conditions specified in Clause [Signage required where parking

 

facilities are made available to the public] and in Clause [Ticketing of vehicles

 

left on land] have not been met or there are reasonable grounds for challenging

 

the claimed breach.’.

 


 

Trade in personal information

 

Mr Tom Watson

 

NC10

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

In section 52 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (Reports and codes of practice to

 

be laid before Parliament), after subsection (1) there is inserted—

 

“(1A)    

The Commissioner shall lay annually before each House of Parliament a

 

report on the unlawful trade in confidential personal information.”.’.

 


 

Penalty

 

Mr Tom Watson

 

NC11

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

In section 60 of the Data Protection Act 1998 (Prosecutions and penalties)—

 

(a)    

in subsection (2) after “section 54A” there is inserted “, section 55”, and


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 12 May 2011                     

261

 

Protection of Freedoms Bill, continued

 
 

(b)    

after subsection (2) there is inserted—

 

“(2A)    

A person guilty of an offence under section 55 shall be liable—

 

(a)    

on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not

 

exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding the

 

statutory maximum, or to both;

 

(b)    

on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term

 

not exceeding two years or to a fine, or to both.”.

 

(2)    

Omit section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 (Power to alter

 

penalty for unlawfully obtaining etc. personal data).’.

 


 

Independent inquiry into use of investigating powers under RIPA

 

Vernon Coaker

 

Clive Efford

 

Diana Johnson

 

Mark Tami

 

NC12

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Secretary of State must establish an independent inquiry into the use of

 

investigatory powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

 

(2)    

The inquiry will examine in particular the use of directed surveillance and

 

possible limits to its use.

 

(3)    

The inquiry will examine possible exemptions to the Act relating to the under-age

 

sale of alcohol and tobacco and anti-social behaviour.

 

(4)    

Recommendations from that enquiry shall be reported to Parliament.’.

 


 

Offence of issuing excess parking charges

 

Diana Johnson

 

NC13

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

A person commits an offence who, without lawful authority, requires a driver or

 

any person in possession of a vehicle to pay parking charges in relation to a

 

contract to park that vehicle.

 

(2)    

The express or implied consent (whether or not legally binding) of a person

 

otherwise entitled to enter into a contract regarding parking is not lawful authority

 

for the purposes of subsection (1).

 

(3)    

Subsection (2) does not apply where—

 

(a)    

the person or body attempting to enforce the parking charges is a member

 

of an Accredited Trade Association so accredited by the Secretary of

 

State, and

 

(b)    

the penalty charge can be appealed to an independent body as set out in

 

section 56(2), and


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 12 May 2011                     

262

 

Protection of Freedoms Bill, continued

 
 

(c)    

the person or body attempting to enforce the parking charges takes

 

reasonable steps to inform the driver or keeper of the vehicle about the

 

right to appeal.

 

(4)    

The Secretary of State can, by way of regulation, introduce a maximum charge,

 

under which parking charges would not be subject to subsection (1).

 

(5)    

A person who is entitled to remove a vehicle cannot commit an offence under this

 

section in relation to that vehicle.

 

(6)    

A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—

 

(a)    

on conviction on indictment, to a fine,

 

(b)    

on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum.

 

(7)    

In this section “motor vehicle” means a mechanically propelled vehicle or a

 

vehicle designed or adapted for towing by a mechanically propelled vehicle.’.

 


 

Regulated activity providers

 

Diana Johnson

 

Vernon Coaker

 

Clive Efford

 

Mark Tami

 

NC14

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘After section 6 of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, insert—

 

“(6A)    

A regulated activity provider must, in exercising their functions under

 

this Act, have regard to any guidance given to them for the purpose by

 

the Secretary of State.”’.

 


 

Independent Safeguarding Authority: sharing information

 

Diana Johnson

 

Vernon Coaker

 

Clive Efford

 

Mark Tami

 

NC15

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘The Independent Safeguarding Authority has a duty to share information with

 

the Police where—

 

(a)    

the information is such that the Chief Executive of the ISA feels that a

 

criminal investigation is appropriate, or

 

(b)    

the information is credible and reliable and suggests that an individual

 

poses a real threat to vulnerable groups, or

 

(c)    

the information has led to a person being barred, or


 
 

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Protection of Freedoms Bill, continued

 
 

(d)    

the information is such that it would lead to a person being barred were

 

the ISA to have reason to believe that the individual may work in a

 

regulated activity in the future.’.

 


 

Extension of the definition of an educational establishment

 

Diana Johnson

 

NC17

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 is amended as follows.

 

(2)    

In Schedule 4, paragraph 3, subsection (1)(a) after “exclusively or mainly for the

 

provision of full-time education to children;”, insert “including further education

 

colleges as defined under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.”.’.

 


 

New Schedules

 

Lynne Featherstone

 

NS1

 

To move the following Schedule:—

 

SCHEDULE

 

Safeguarding of vulnerable groups: Northern Ireland

 

Restriction of scope of regulated activities: children

 

1    (1)  

Parts 1 and 3 of Schedule 2 to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern

 

Ireland) Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/1351 (N.I.11)) (regulated activity relating to

 

children and the period condition) are amended as follows.

 

      (2)  

In paragraph 1(1)(b) (frequency and period condition for regulated activity), at

 

the beginning, insert “except in the case of activities falling within sub-

 

paragraph (1A),”.

 

      (3)  

After paragraph 1(1) insert—

 

“(1A)  

The following activities fall within this sub-paragraph—

 

(a)    

relevant personal care, and

 

(b)    

health care provided by, or under the direction or

 

supervision of, a health care professional.

 

    (1B)  

In this Part of this Schedule “relevant personal care” means—

 

(a)    

physical assistance which is given to a child who is in need

 

of it by reason of illness or disability and is given in

 

connection with eating or drinking (including the

 

administration of parenteral nutrition),


 
 

Public Bill Committee: 12 May 2011                     

264

 

Protection of Freedoms Bill, continued

 
 

(b)    

physical assistance which is given to a child who is in need

 

of it by reason of age, illness or disability and is given in

 

connection with—

 

(i)    

toileting (including in relation to the process of

 

menstruation),

 

(ii)    

washing or bathing, or

 

(iii)    

dressing,

 

(c)    

the prompting, together with supervision, of a child, who is

 

in need of it by reason of illness or disability, in relation to

 

the performance of the activity of eating or drinking where

 

the child is unable to make a decision in relation to

 

performing such an activity without such prompting and

 

supervision,

 

(d)    

the prompting, together with supervision, of a child, who is

 

in need of it by reason of age, illness or disability, in

 

relation to the performance of any of the activities listed in

 

paragraph (b)(i) to (iii) where the child is unable to make a

 

decision in relation to performing such an activity without

 

such prompting and supervision,

 

(e)    

any form of training, instruction, advice or guidance

 

which—

 

(i)    

relates to the performance of the activity of eating

 

or drinking,

 

(ii)    

is given to a child who is in need of it by reason of

 

illness or disability, and

 

(iii)    

does not fall within paragraph (c), or

 

(f)    

any form of training, instruction, advice or guidance

 

which—

 

(i)    

relates to the performance of any of the activities

 

listed in paragraph (b)(i) to (iii),

 

(ii)    

is given to a child who is in need of it by reason of

 

age, illness or disability, and

 

(iii)    

does not fall within paragraph (d).

 

    (1C)  

In this Part of this Schedule —

 

“health care” includes all forms of health care provided for children,

 

whether relating to physical or mental health and also includes

 

palliative care for children and procedures that are similar to forms

 

of medical or surgical care but are not provided for children in

 

connection with a medical condition,

 

“health care professional” means a person who is a member of a

 

profession regulated by a body mentioned in section 25(3) of the

 

National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act

 

2002.

 

    (1D)  

Any reference in this Part of this Schedule to health care provided

 

by, or under the direction or supervision of, a health care

 

professional includes a reference to first aid provided to a child by

 

any person acting on behalf of an organisation established for the

 

purpose of providing first aid.”

 

      (4)  

In paragraph 1(2)(c) (work activities at certain establishments to be regulated

 

activity) for “any form of work (whether or not for gain)” substitute “any work

 

falling within sub-paragraph (2A) or (2B)”.

 

      (5)  

After paragraph 1(2) insert—


 
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Revised 12 May 2011