Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Data Flow to and from EU

Thursday 18 March 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • UK personal data can currently flow freely to the EU under UK law.
  • The trade agreement ensures temporary free flow of personal data from the EU to the UK until adequacy decisions are adopted.
  • The UK government advises businesses to maintain sensible contingency plans regarding data flow.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Brexit
Context

The issue of data flow is crucial for businesses operating in both the UK and the EU. Recent developments indicate potential risks to this free flow.

Question

What steps the Government is taking to ensure the free flow of data to and from the EU?

Answer from John Whittingdale

Under UK law, personal data can currently flow freely from the UK to the EU. The trade agreement also ensures the continued temporary free flow of personal data from the EU to the UK until adequacy decisions are adopted. The European Commission published positive draft adequacy decisions on 19 February and we expect the EU to complete the technical approval process soon.

Answered
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Q2 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Brexit Business Compliance
Context

The current reliance on the EU to maintain data adequacy decisions is causing concern, especially given potential political tensions that could affect these decisions.

Question

We all know how important the flow of data is for UK business, but frankly the Government have handed the powers to the EU to turn our data on and off. They have turned us into supplicants, effectively. What are the contingency plans, given that relationships are frosty, should the EU use those powers?

Answer from John Whittingdale

As I say, the EU Commission has already provided an assessment of the UK's data protection laws, which found us to be adequate, and there is absolutely no reason why that should not be confirmed once the processes are under way. However, we have said that it is sensible for businesses to make contingency plans by putting alternative transfer mechanisms in place, just in case there comes a point at some future date, but we expect adequacy to be granted within the timescale permitted.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific contingency measures and timelines

How: Under Review

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