Lords 'tidies up' Data (Use and Access) Bill

The aim of the Data (Use and Access) Bill is to harness the power of data for economic growth, support a modern digital government, and improve people’s lives.

Third reading

Third reading, a chance for members to ‘tidy up' the bill, ensuring the text is effective, workable and without loopholes, is scheduled for Wednesday 5 February.

Proposed changes

No amendments to the bill have been put forward so far. Members may discuss the progress of the bill through its stages in the Lords.

How to follow

• Watch live on Parliament TV from 3.45pm.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript (available from three hours after the debate)

Explore further information

Find out more about the bill in the House of Lords Library briefing.

What's happened so far?

Report stage day two: Tuesday 28 January

Report stage took place on Tuesday 21 and Tuesday 28 January.

Members speaking on the final day of report stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• the data commissioner's status as an independent authority
• code of practice on children's data and education
• creation of non-consensual sexually explicit images, film and audio.

Votes

There were two divisions (votes) on amendments regarding:

• assessment reports on the data commissioner's performance
• creation of a 'data dictionary' to ensure consistency in the definition of personal attributes.

Following the votes on the floor of the House, the amendments were agreed to and the changes were made.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording - part one and part two.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript - part one and part two.

Report stage day one: Tuesday 21 January

Members speaking on day one of report stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• ensuring public authorities such as the DVLA and HM Revenue and Customs provide accurate information
• regulation of digital verification
• creating an offence regarding the false use of digital identity documents.

Votes

There were three divisions (votes) on proposed changes to the bill regarding:

• revisions to the list of public bodies that must reliably ascertain the personal data attributes that they collect
• providing guidance to relevant stakeholders on cyber-security measures before they may receive information from the National Underground Asset Register
• qualifying that the scientific research exception for data reuse only occur if in the public interest

Members voted to agree to the above amendments so the changes were made.

Further votes took place on laying the digital verification service trust framework before Parliament and ensuring AI programmes used in automated decision making have regard for safety, security, robustness, appropriate transparency and explainability, fairness, accountability and governance, and contestability and redress. Members voted against these amendments so the changes were not made.

Catch up

• Watch on Parliament TV: part one and part two
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript: part one and part two.

Committee stage day four: Wednesday 18 December

Members speaking on the final day of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• code of practice on children and AI
• national security and data privacy risks
• compliance of AI with UK copyright law.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day three: Monday 16 December

Members speaking on day three of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• protection of children
• misuse of rules by AI model developers
• transfer of jurisdiction of courts to tribunals.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day two: Tuesday 10 December

Members speaking on day two of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• research into online safety
• data mining
• processing of personal data.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Committee stage day one: Tuesday 3 December

Members speaking on day one of committee stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including:

• subject consent for data research
• public interest in personal data for scientific research
• government statements on legitimate interest.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Second reading

Second reading, the main debate on the key principles and main purpose of the draft law, took place on Tuesday 19 November.

Image: Pixabay (Gerd Altmann)