Reporting to ministers, the group will develop a draft set of guiding principles for public bodies to ensure that they properly protect individuals' privacy when handling their information. Once developed, a consultation on the draft principles will follow.
Finance secretary John Swinney said: "While I am confident that public bodies are already working to high standards of IT security, we recognise the need to ensure public confidence in the public sector's handling of personal information.
"The Scottish public rightly deserve effective and efficient public services. In the 21st century, IT has an increasingly important role to play in the efficient delivery of services as well as ensuring people can access services quickly and conveniently."
Draft guidance, which will be subject to consultation, has also been launched on the use of biometrics in Scottish schools.
Cabinet secretary for education and lifelong learning Fiona Hyslop said: "We know that some schools are already using biometric technology to provide access to school meals and for other functions. Security and privacy issues are a very serious concern in relation to the use of biometrics in schools and this must be fully addressed. That is why we are issuing this draft guidance today. It will be an important tool to assist schools, with the involvement of parents and pupils, in ensuring this."
She added: "This government is committed to putting civil liberties at the heart of public services policy. It is important that schools pupils are made aware of the importance of their personal information in relation to any biometric service for school meals or library access. When using IT, we need to ensure the mechanisms involved are designed and delivered in such a way that individual privacy is respected. That is why we are developing principles to guide public bodies when designing or developing public services systems and why consultation on how we manage biometric technology in schools is very important."
The draft guidance will be consulted upon over the next three months and then issued in a finalised form taking account of the responses received and advice from the expert group.
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Quelle/Source: Public Servant Online, 09.09.2008
