Mr Brian Ovens

Whatdotheyknow.com

Terry Barnard

Information Management Directorate

Department for Transport

9/03 Southside

105 Victoria Street

LONDON

SW1E 6DT

Direct Line: 020 7944 3287

Web Site: www.dft.gov.uk

Our Ref: F0005871

4 December 2009

Dear Mr Ovens,

FOI Request on Supply of Personal Data to Companies

I am writing to confirm that the Department has now completed its search for the information which you requested on 9 November 2009.

Your request was - How much money has the Department of transport made out of selling

peoples personal details on to other companies? I would like a full list please going back 5 years.

The Department publishes a list of those to whom it provides and shares data, both free of charge or in some instances for a fee, which you can find at http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/informationcharter/whoweshareinfo. The information provided below relates only to personal data which the Department provides for a fee.

The only part of the Department that supplies personal information to companies for a fee is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The fees are charged on a cost recovery basis only, so that the person requesting the information pays the costs DVLA incurs in providing it.

DVLA holds two databases;

DVLA provides anonymised extracts from the Vehicles Database in bulk to a small number of companies for a fee. These extracts include factors such as make and model of the vehicle, engine capacity, colour, and fuel type. This information does not include any personal vehicle keeper information, i.e. any keeper's name and/or address, but may include the vehicle registration mark (which we have to treat as personal data because we may be able to identify an individual from it), hence it is included.

The total amount from fees charged for such anonymised extracts for the last 5 years is as follows:

In addition to this, DVLA also provides individual records from the driver and vehicle databases to private companies and the public on a case by case basis in return for a fee.

Information from the driver's database is normally only supplied to the licence holder or his legal representative, although a third party such as an Employer, Council (Taxi Licensing) Insurance Companies etc may apply for confirmation of a driving record, provided a mandate which has been completed, signed and dated by the licence holder is produced. A print out of the driving record is released once a £5.00 payment is received. This may be necessary where, for example, employers of drivers have a legal responsibility, under section 87(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to ensure their drivers are entitled to drive.

Information on vehicle keepers is only released if the requester can show `reasonable cause' to have that information. The link attached provides access onto the DVLA's website and provides details about Vehicle Fee Paying Enquiries: www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/data/relinfo/howtorequest.aspx?keywords=V888

The total amount from fees charged for such driver and vehicle enquiries for the last 5 years is as follows:

If you are unhappy with the way the Department has handled your request or with the decisions made in relation to your request you may complain within two calendar months of the date of this letter by writing to the Department's Information Rights Unit at:

Zone D/04

Ashdown House

Sedlescombe Road North

Hastings

East Sussex TN37 7GA

E-mail: [email address].uk   

Please see attached details of DfT's complaints procedure and your right to complain to the Information Commissioner.from [department] you may ask for an internal review. You should contact [name of official and address] if you wish to complain

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely,

Terry Barnard

Your right to complain to [DfT/Agency] and the Information Commissioner

You have the right to complain within two calendar months of the date of this letter about the way in which your request for information was handled and/or about the decision not to disclose all or part of the information requested. In addition a complaint can be made that DfT has not complied with its FOI publication scheme.

Your complaint will be acknowledged and you will be advised of a target date by which to expect a response. Initially your complaint will be re-considered by the official who dealt with your request for information. If, after careful consideration, that official decides that his/her decision was correct, your complaint will automatically be referred to a senior independent official who will conduct a further review. You will be advised of the outcome of your complaint and if a decision is taken to disclose information originally withheld this will be done as soon as possible.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

 Information Commissioner's Office
 Wycliffe House
 Water Lane
 Wilmslow
 Cheshire
 SK9 5AF