chrisbray.co.uk

Ms. Smith,

Re: Coroners and Justice Bill : Clause 152

I have recently been made aware of a disturbing clause contained within a bill passing through the house at the moment, the Coroners and Justice Bill, Clause 152 states:
"..a designated authority may by order (an “information-sharing order”) enable any person to share information which consists of or includes personal data."

As a constituency member of yours, I would like to voice my opposition to this bill and to explicitly refuse my consent for any of my personal data to be used under any information-sharing order.

I strongly object to these powers on the basis of principle and practice. On principle, they would sweep away fundamental democratic liberties of information privacy. In practice, the Government has consistently failed to manage large-scale ICT projects, resulting in massive data losses and vast expense. This clause would contribute only to further these losses by allowing extended distribution of personal data.
Just as importantly, Parliamentary scrutiny will be sidestepped by introducing information sharing orders via secondary legislation, overseen only by the toothless Information Commissioner's Office.

Polls also continually show the public are against the proposals, which would give Government far too much power over our personal data.

This continued degradation of our privacy is not acceptable and must stop.

Chris Bray

Thanks to the Open Rights Group for making me aware of this issue by virtue of their ORG-action mailing list. I strongly urge my readers to to both join the ORG-action mailing list and Support the Open Rights Group

Further materials:

1. This Privacy International Black Zone report includes extended commentary and a detailed list of data-sharing examples: http://www.privacyinternational.org/countries/uk/uk_data_sharing_report.pdf
2. This NO2ID briefing indicates both the broad concerns and gives a detailed legal analysis of the proposal: http://www.no2id.net/IDSchemes/2009-01-22-coroners-and-justice-bill-briefing.pdf
3. NO2ID also have an extensive archive of background material: http://www.no2id.net/datasharing

According to this thread on the Jalopy Journal forums the legendary hotrod builder Boyd Coddington passed away this morning.

Whether you loved his work or not he was undenyably talented and innovative as a Hot Rod builder, his work is amongst some of the best in the world. His all-aluminium "Alumatub" is truly a work of art and the TV show American HotRod has been a staple of my viewing for a while.

Boyd Coddington's AlumaTub

Rest In Piece Boyd, as a friend just said to me "If I do a 10th of what he did I will go a very happy proud man".

My deepest condolences to those he leaves behind.

After recent news that Westminster Council wanted to ban Soup Runs in London fortunately the council dropped the clause from its members bill at the last minute.

Sadly it seems that they are at it again, in an interview with BBC Radio 5 live:

When will this woman stop her ridiculous personal vendetta against those less fortunate than herself?

For the first time in my life I find myself agreeing with Mayor of London Ken Livingstone:

I know it's late but Five Live Report: The Big Soup Issue can be heard at 1930 GMT on 23rd December. You can listen again or get the podcast at Five Live Report website

Two events taking place this week highlight the delicious irony of the approach of London's leaders to supporting the homeless.

On Thursday 15th November, an Awards ceremony will take place. The Award is the Andy Ludlow Homelessness Award. £25,000 presented by the London Councils' organisation

"The winners of the Andy Ludlow Homeless Awards 2007 will be announced at a special ceremony at BFI Southbank next week – with £25,000 to be shared between organisations tackling homelessness in London.
The Andy Ludlow Awards recognise projects that improve services to homeless people, prevent homelessness, or tackle disadvantage caused by homelessness".

http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=21198&cat=2424

However, the same organisation will - just two days earlier - be debating a proposal from Westminster Council to make it a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £2,500 to distribute free food to the homeless on publicly owned land.

http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/upload/public/attachments/1250/071015%20As%20advertised%20(FINAL).pdf

Where page 14 states:

Whilst trumpeting its concerns for the homeless in its Awards ceremony, it seems that some at least of the members of the London Councils Leaders Committee seem more interested in sweeping them out of view and criminalising those who seek to help.

Concerned members of the public have contacted Mr Hatch, as suggested by the consultation on the private bill which is intended to introduce this new criminal offence of feeding the homeless

But are receiving a standard response of

The awards ceremony takes place on Thursday, 15 November at 11.30am at the BFI Southbank. Special guests include Iain Wright MP and broadcaster Jon Snow. It is being organised by Councillor Carswell.

Iain Wright (http://www.iainwrightmp.org.uk) is a Labour MP.

Councillor Carswell (Lab) is the person responsible for the awards and for homelessness issues.

http://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/doc.asp?doc=18403

I emplore you to do anything within your power to stop this madness, how can any civilised nation outlaw giving food to the hungry and homeless.