Ministers rally over 'snoopers charter'

Ministers vowed today to press on with moves to let Whitehall departments swap detailed personal information which have been called a "snoopers charter" by civil liberties campaigners.

Planning Minister Lord Falconer said proposals to make it much easier for government agencies to "pool" data on individuals would be a valuable weapon in the fight against crime and benefit fraud.

He was supported by Labour MPs who gave the plans, the brainchild of Tony Blair's Performance and Innovation Unit, a broad welcome today.

Under the scheme, benefit offices would find it easier to get a claimant's tax details from the Inland Revenue, while town halls would be able to get medical records.

Drivers applying for a new licence would no longer have to send their passport in because the DVLA would have closer links with the Passport Service.

Mr Blair endorsed the plans, claiming: "The opportunities are clear: better, more personalised, more efficient public services which handle personal information in a way that commands public trust."