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Some of the language used in privacy notices can be specialised.  The Information Commissioner's website provides .

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The purpose of the processing

We process any personal data provided in order to answer the questions asked or in order to provide relevant contact details if the enquiry needs to be redirected.

Categories of information processed

We process the normal category data such as names, email addresses, postal addresses and/or telephone numbers. Depending on the subject-matter of the enquiry, we may also receive and temporarily store *special category data, for example, information about health, sexual orientation or religious or political beliefs.

*Special category personal data consists of information revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, and the processing of genetic data, biometric data for the purposes of uniquely identifying a natural person, data concerning health or data concerning a natural person’s sex life or sexual orientation.

Source of the information

Personal information is provided to us by you (the data subject) when you make an enquiry via the website contact form or by someone contacting us on your behalf.

Legal basis for processing

Data protection law states that we must have a legal basis for handling your personal data.

The legal basis for the processing of personal information (both normal and special category) is that it is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest under Article 6 (1)(e) UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and section 8 (d) of the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA). The task is the engagement with the public through all available channels. This includes enabling members of the public to submit enquiries to the Parliament through the website and social media channels on any subject matter including those which relate to special category personal data.

For processing special category data, processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest in terms of Article 9(2)(g) UK GDPR and section 10(3) and paragraph 6 (2)(b), Part 2, Schedule 1, of the DPA.

The sharing of data (as referred to below) with the police and security forces where necessary is based on a legitimate interest of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) UK GDPR.

Data sharing

Personal information may be shared internally with other departments within the Scottish Parliament if this is necessary in order to deal with the enquiry.

It may also be shared with the police and security forces if the correspondence contains threats, abusive language or indications of illegal activities.

Retention of data

Personal information in correspondence is held securely on Scottish Parliament IT systems for no more than two years.

If correspondence includes personal information belonging to any of the special categories, we hold this only until we have responded to or otherwise dealt with the enquiry.

Children and young people safeguarding and child protection

In line with the principles underlying the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2014), published by the Scottish Government, our staff may report a concern to the relevant authorities if they come across an issue during their work which causes them to think that a child may be at risk of abuse or harm.

Your rights

Data protection legislation sets out the rights which individuals have in relation to personal data held about them by data controllers. Applicable rights are listed below. You can exercise your data subject rights in particular circumstances depending on the purpose for which the data controller is processing the data and the legal basis upon which the processing takes place.

The following rights may apply

Access to your information

You have the right to request a copy of the personal information about you that we hold.   

Further information on how to make a data protection 'subject access request'.

Correcting your information

You have the right to ask us to correct the personal data we hold about you. We want to make sure that your personal information is accurate, complete and up to date and you may ask us to correct any personal information about you that you believe does not meet these standards.

Objecting to how we may use your information

You have the right at any time to require us to stop using your personal information for direct marketing purposes. In addition, where we use your personal information to perform tasks carried out in the public interest then, if you ask us to, we will stop using that personal information unless there are overriding legitimate grounds to continue. 

• please note that the right to object to the processing of personal data does not apply where the data subject has consented to the processing, subject to the right to withdraw consent
• the right to object to the processing of personal data for the purposes of a public interest task is restricted if there are legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interest of the data subject
• the right of erasure and the right to object to processing of personal data do not apply where personal data is processed for the performance of a legal obligation. This will be considered on a case by case basis and depends on what personal data is involved and the risks further processing of that data could pose to you 

Deletion of your information

You have the right to ask us to delete personal information about you where:

• you consider that we no longer require the information for the purposes for which it was obtained
• we are using that information with your consent and you have withdrawn your consent – see Withdrawing consent to using your information below
• you have validly objected to our use of your personal information – see Objecting to how we may use your information above
• our use of your personal information is contrary to law or our other legal obligations
• please note that the right allowing for deletion or erasure of personal data (right to be forgotten) does not apply in cases where personal data is processed for the purposes of the performance of a task carried out in the public interest
• the right of erasure and the right to object to processing of personal data do not apply where personal data is processed for the performance of a legal obligation. This will be considered on a case by case basis and depends on what personal data is involved and the risks further processing of that data could pose to you 

Restricting how we may use your information

In some cases, you may ask us to restrict how we use your personal information. This right might apply, for example, where we are checking the accuracy of personal information about you that we hold or assessing the validity of any objection you have made to our use of your information. The right might also apply where there is no longer a basis for using your personal information, but you don't want us to delete the data. Where this right is validly exercised, we may only use the relevant personal information with your consent, for legal claims or where there are other public interest grounds to do so.

Withdrawing consent to using your information

Where we use your personal information with your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time and we will stop using your personal information for the purposes for which consent was given.

Please contact us in any of the ways set out below if you wish to exercise any of these rights.

Changes to our privacy statement

We keep this privacy statement under regular review and will place any updates on this website.  Paper copies of the privacy statement may also be obtained using the contact information below. 

This privacy statement was last updated on 4 May 2021. 

Complaints

We seek to resolve directly all complaints about how we handle personal information but you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office online at: .

Or by phone at: 0303 123 1113

Contact information and further advice

If you have any further questions about the way in which we process personal data, or about how to exercise your rights, please contact the Head of Information Governance at:
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Telephone: 0131 348 6913

(Calls are welcome through the Text Relay service or in British Sign Language through contactSCOTLAND-BSL.)

Email: [email protected]

Please contact us if you require information in another language or format