The new EU data protection law must work for business, for government and, most important of all, for individuals, Justice Minister Lord McNally said in a statement on 28 June.
The new law to update data protection will apply to the UK; but, said Lord McNally, the Government will negotiate hard in Europe to make sure that the right balance is struck between protecting personal data, without overburdening business or stifling economic growth and innovation.
He was speaking at the publication of the Government's response to a call for evidence, which showed that a revised law in the area is generally welcome, but that there are concerns.
The Government will support new measures that will improve data protection for UK citizens – giving them confidence that their data will be processed fairly and held to secure standards. Individuals would also be given strengthened rights to delete their personal data and be informed if their data is compromised.
However, the Government believes that more can be done to eliminate unnecessary burdens and will fight in Brussels to make sure the plans don't burden businesses.
Lord McNally said: "I want to thank everyone who responded to our call for evidence and gave us such a broad range of views. It's obvious that whilst there is a lot to welcome in the proposals, organisations and individuals want more clarity about what the changes could mean for them. I have always been clear that the costs and benefits of the Commission's proposals need to be considered carefully, and the evidence we received from organisations will be invaluable in helping us to do this. But what has struck me in all the responses is the genuine wish to get the new data protection law right, to deliver legislation that will work for business, for government and – most important of all – for individuals."
Negotiations are expected to continue in the EU until 2014 and the Government will be using the information received in the call for evidence to persuade other EU member states to agree a solution that minimises unnecessary burdens, while ensuring people's data protection rights are upheld.