Norman Baker MP Member of Parliament for Lewes constituency
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Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
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Local MP claims victory over DVLA data sales scandal. Polegate’s “Creative Car Park Management” will have to change, he says
Local Lib Dem MP, Norman Baker, has claimed victory in his battle to stop the government selling off drivers' personal data following yesterday's ministerial announcement heralding a crackdown on the sale of personal details by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency.
Mr Baker took up the issue after a deluge of complaints about Creative Car Park Management, the company that runs the shoppers' car park in Polegate. Working with the Mail On Sunday, he highlighted the fact that the DVLA has been selling details stored on their official database for £2.50 a time and revealed that the government has made around £9m since 2002 by selling the details of around 1.2m drivers every year to private companies.
Under the new regulations, proposed yesterday by the government, access to data held by the DVLA will be considerably more strictly monitored and a new complaints procedure will be implemented so that the public can report rogue parking companies.
Significantly, the government intends to enforce a code of conduct on companies like Creative Car Park Management, which will include provisions relating to penalty charges. This holds out the prospect that what Norman calls the "extortionate" £170 penalties currently levied in Polegate may soon become a thing of the past.
Commenting on the announcement, Norman said:
"I am very pleased that the government has responded so positively and constructively to the problems I have drawn attention to. It is quite simply unacceptable for private individuals and companies to get hold of drivers' personal data in the way they have to date. When people hand over this information they do not expect it to be handed out to all and sundry and it is only right that stricter procedures are now to be put in place to stop this happening.
"I particularly welcome the proposed Code of Conduct which I hope will lead to an end to the extortionate penalties being handed out to people parking at the shoppers' car park in Polegate."