The Data (Use and Access) Bill (DUA Bill)

The Data (Use and Access) Bill (DUA Bill) is progressing through UK parliament far quicker than its predecessor, the Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (DPDI Bill), which ultimately failed. The new Bill, introduced into the House of Lords on the 23rd of October 2024 has re-worked some of the proposed changes of the former failed Bill. However, it has been criticised by some as “watering down” the former Bill’s proposals.

 

According to the UK government, the DUA Bill is largely focused on making better use of data across many sectors of the UK’s economy and improving public sector services. It is proposed that this Bill will enable the use of data to grow the economy.

 

The Department for Science, Innovation & Technology outlined the Bill in October 2024 stating: “It is intended that it will “unlock the power of data to drive efficiencies in our public services, relieving health and police front-line workers from bureaucracy so they can focus on treating sick people or spend more time on our streets fighting crime”.

 

The bill addresses various provisions, including:

 

  • Access to customer and business data
  • Services that use information to ascertain and verify facts about individuals
  • Recording, sharing and keeping registers of information about street apparatus
  • Keeping and maintaining registers of births and deaths
  • Regulating the processing of identifiable information
  • Privacy and electronic communications
  • Establishing the Information Commission
  • Information standards for health and social care
  • Licensing smart meter communication
  • Disclosure of information to improve public service delivery
  • Data Retention by internet service providers for child death investigations
  • Supporting independent research into online safety
  • Retention of biometric data
  • Services for electronic signatures, seals, and trust-based technologies.

 

Next steps:

 

If the DUA Bill continues at its current pace, it is expected to gain Royal Assent by summer 2025, reshaping the UK’s data governance framework.

 

 

 

This article is for general information only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. If you require further information regarding its content, please contact us at info@kpdpconsultancy.co.uk. Law as of February 2025.