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Home Office

Answer

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the police, having gained access to communications data, have the powers to disclose such data to the Inland Revenue for the purposes of collection of tax or duty; and what plans he has to withdraw the draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003 to make specific reference to section 22(2)(f) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. [131713] Caroline Flint: The draft Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003 makes specific reference to section 22(2)(f) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. It provides that only the Commissioners of Customs and Excise and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue may grant an authorisation or give a notice requiring disclosure of communications data for the purpose of assessing or collecting any tax, duty, levy or other imposition, contribution or charge payable to a Government Department. The police having obtained communications data for another purpose have no power to disclose that data to the Inland Revenue for the purposes of collecting tax or to Customs and Excise for the purposes of collecting duty.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

131713; 411 c254W;411 c258W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Access Disclosure of information Databases Data transmission Electronic surveillance Inland Revenue Police Powers Telecommunications Tax collection

Legislation

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

Regulation of Investigatory Powers (Communications Data) Order 2003

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk