Viscount Camrose (Con)

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones, for raising these significant issues. While I share some of the concerns expressed, I find myself unable—at least for the moment—to offer support for the amendments in their current form. Amendment 17 seeks to remove the powers granted to the Secretary of State to override primary legislation and to modify aspects of UK data protection law via statutory instrument. I agree with the principle underpinning this amendment: that any changes to data protection law must be subject to appropriate scrutiny. It is essential that parliamentary oversight remains robust and meaningful, particularly when it comes to matters as sensitive and far-reaching as data protection. However, my hesitation lies in the practical implications of the amendment. While I sympathise with the call for greater transparency, I would welcome more detail on how this oversight mechanism might work in practice. Would it involve enhanced scrutiny procedures or a stronger role for relevant parliamentary committees? I fear that, without this clarity, we risk creating uncertainty in an area that requires, above all, precision and confidence. The Minister’s Amendment 18 inserts specific protections for children’s personal data into the UK GDPR framework. The Government have rightly emphasised the importance of safeguarding children in the digital age. I commend the intention behind the amendment and agree wholeheartedly that children deserve special protections when it comes to the processing of their personal data. It is worth noting that this is a government amendment to their own Bill. While Governments amending their own legislation is not unprecedented—the previous Government may have indulged in the practice from time to time—it is a practice that can give rise to questions. I will leave my comments there; obviously it is not ideal, but these things happen. Finally, Amendment 21, also tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones, mirrors Amendment 17 in seeking to curtail the Secretary of State’s powers to amend primary legislation via statutory instrument. My earlier comments on the importance of parliamentary oversight apply here. As with Amendment 17, I am of course supportive of the principle. The delegation of such significant powers to the Executive should not proceed without robust scrutiny. However, I would appreciate greater clarity on how this proposed mechanism would function in practice. As it stands, I fear that the amendment raises too many questions. If these concerns could be addressed, I would be most grateful. In conclusion, these amendments raise important points about the balance of power between the Executive and Parliament, as well as the protection of vulnerable individuals in the digital sphere. I look forward to hearing more detail and clarity, so that we can move forward with confidence.