your personal data

We handle personal information about you so that we can provide better services for you. This is how we look after that information.

When we ask you for personal information, we promise:

to make sure you know why we need it
to ask only for what we need, and not to collect too much or irrelevant information
to protect it and make sure nobody has access to it who shouldn’t
to let you know if we share it with other organisations to give you better public services - and if you can say no
to make sure we don’t keep it longer than necessary
not to make your personal information available for commercial use without your permission

In return, we ask you to:

give us accurate information
tell us as soon as possible if there are any changes, such as a new address

This helps us to keep your information reliable and up to date.

You can get more details on:

how to find out what information we hold about you and how to ask us to correct any mistakes
agreements we have with other organisations for sharing information
circumstances where we can pass on your personal information without telling you, for example, to prevent and detect crime or to produce anonymised statistics
our instructions to staff on how to collect, use and delete your personal information;
how we check the information we hold is accurate and up to date
how to make a complaint

When we ask you for information, we will keep to the law, including the Data Protection Act 1998.

For independent advice about data protection, privacy and data-sharing issues, you can contact the Information Commissioner at:

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Phone: 08456 30 60 60 or 01625 54 57 45
Website: http://www.ico.gov.uk/

Access to personal data about you

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 individuals have a right of access to the information that is held about them by the Department (although this is subject to some exemptions). These requests are known as subject access requests. If you are seeking personal information about yourself you should make a subject access request under the Data Protection Act 1998 as this information is exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information regime.

If you want to make a subject access request please submit it in writing to:

The Data Protection Officer
Department for Culture Media & Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London SW1Y 5DH

and include the following information and documentation:

Proof of identity, such as a photocopy of your driver's license or passport, or two copies of recent utility bills.
Any information that will enable us to locate the data that you are seeking. For example, details of any contact that you may have had with the Department in the past.

Please note that the Department may charge for providing such information. Your request will be dealt with, in forty days of the Department accepting the request.

Websites of interest

Information Commissioner