The DMA has reiterated its call for the new Labour Government to include a commitment to bring in fresh data protection legislation in tomorrow’s King’s Speech, which outlines the administration’s priorities for the coming term.
The industry body has written to the new DSIT Secretary of State Peter Kyle to impress upon him the importance of reviving the data reforms and to offer its cooperation in doing so.
The move follows the public letter to the political parties from members of the previous Government’s Business Advisory Group – chaired by DMA CEO Chris Combemale – which also included TechUK, the Advertising Association and the Centre for Information Policy Leadership.
The group had helped develop the now defunct Data Protection & Digital Information Bill, and the letter appealed for a new Government to pass a similar piece of legislation “in haste”.
The DPDI Bill first emerged in 2021, but was still going through the committee stage in the House of Lords when the election was called. However, most industry observers recognise it was the Government’s own decision to pile in 240 amendments on the third reading in the House of Commons in November last year which led to huge delays and ultimately the Bill’s downfall.
Combemale said: “With a fresh perspective on policy and legislation by the new Government, this is an exciting and opportune moment to take the previous DPDI bill, tighten it up, and put it through the legislative process in haste.
“A progressive and innovation-friendly regulatory environment that maintains strong privacy protection standards while delivering digital trust and legal certainty will encourage economic growth, more innovative and effective public services, make easier the use of data for research and public good, and greater flexibility in a more complex global environment for data transfers.
“Inclusion of the legislation in the King’s Speech would show that this Government is committed to business and modernising the economy. We look forward to working with them to advance the issues relevant to our industry, business and the economy.”
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