MPs concerned over census confidentiality

Shortlisted supplier Lockheed Martin could be subject to US Patriot Act

UK citizens are worried their information could be accessed by US authorities

MPs are demanding a UK government assurance that supplier Lockheed Martin's involvement in providing systems for the 2011 Census will not risk US seizure of information under its Patriot Act.

US-based Lockheed Martin is one of the bidders for systems to support the 2011 Census.

The Patriot Act – like the Regulatory of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) in the UK – allows US law enforcement bodies to demand public information from private sector companies.

The Commons Treasury Committee raised the fear that personal information gathered for the census could be subject to the Act and called on the UK government "to take clear legal advice and advice from the US State Department" and publish the outcome.

Census director Jil Matheson said the implications of the Act had been discussed with Lockheed and T-Systems – the other supplier shortlisted for the census contract – and said the Office of National Statistics was taking legal advice to ensure citizens' confidentiality.

Treasury exchequer secretary Angela Eagle said contract terms would ensure electronic data that could identify an individual will be warehoused and processed within the UK.

But MPs demanded an official government response that information would be secure.