Data Protection and Privacy Policy

Data Controller: Boundary Commission for Scotland
Address: Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, EH12 5HD
Email: bcs@scottishboundaries.gov.uk

Data Protection Officer: Kirsty Mavor
Address: BCS, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, EH12 5HD
Email: Secretary@scottishboundaries.gov.uk

Introduction

1. The Boundary Commission for Scotland (the Commission) is an independent and impartial public body, which reviews all UK Parliament constituency boundaries in Scotland according to rules established by the Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 (as amended). There are separate Commissions to review UK Parliament constituencies in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Why do you process my personal information?

2. The Commission’s  review process is informed by public consultations – this is a statutory requirement under the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011. The Commission is committed to respecting personal data that we hold as part of its reviews.  

What categories of personal data are you processing?

3.    The Commission does not require or request any of the defined special categories of data defined under GDPR. However, data on political affiliation or religious make up can sometimes be provided in consultation responses.

4.    You may request a copy of any personal data we hold on you, at any time, by contacting the Data Protection Officer as set out at the top of page 1. We will aim to respond to your request within 20 working days.

Where do you get my personal data from?

5.    The Commission holds personal data collected through the following:

i.    Through responses to its public consultations (including applications to attend, and oral representations made, at public hearings); 
ii.    Through personal correspondence sent to the Commission;
iii.    Through requests to be included on our mailing lists; and
iv.    In relation to Commissioners and the Secretariat team.

6.    In addition, in line with Representation of the People Regulations 2001 (as amended), the Commission Secretariat receives the full electoral register and monthly updates from Electoral Registration Officers. This information is held securely in encrypted form, it is redacted before use and the original data is destroyed after three months.  The redacted data is destroyed after three years.

Do you share my personal data with anyone else?

7.    We will not share your personal data with other organisations. However, we will publish consultation responses on our website with all personal information redacted apart from the name of the respondent and the first part of their post code.

Do you transfer my personal data to other countries?

8.    We will not share your personal data with other countries. However, we will publish consultation responses on our website with all personal information redacted apart from the name of the respondent and the first part of their post code. Our website is accessible in other countries.

How long do you keep my personal data?

9.    Personal data is held for the duration of a review. Once ended, all files relating to the a Review will be subject to scrutiny by National Records of Scotland (NRS) in line with requirements placed on government bodies and their agencies.

10.  We do not undertake any automated decision making or profiling using your personal data.

What rights do I have?

How do I complain if I am not happy?

If you are unhappy with how any aspect of this privacy notice, or how your personal information is being processed, please contact the Commission’s Data Protection Officer, Isabel Drummond-Murray, at:

BCS, Thistle House, 91 Haymarket Terrace, EH12 5HD
Email:  Secretary@scottishboundaries.gov.uk

If you are still not happy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

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

Tel: 0303 123 1113
Email: casework@ico.org.uk

https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/