NEW MEGA-DATABASE A STEP TOO FAR

12.05.00am GMT Tue 20th May 2008

Commenting on the Government's plans for a giant database of electronic information which would hold details of every phone call and email sent in the UK, Jenny Willott said:

"This idea is unbelievable. How can such an enormous intrusion into people's private lives work in a free and liberal country?

"The Government has proved that it is completely incapable of looking after even modest amounts of personal data. How can the Government expect people to trust them with such enormous quantities of private information?

"This mega-database would require an unimaginably large and complex computer system to record every email and phone call in the country. The cost of it would be equally mind-blowing.

"This is an Orwellian step too far and should be thrown out."