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[PeteM]

Roland Perry wrote:
> In article <463F06C3.6060507@callnetuk.com>, PeteM <otcbn@callnetuk.com> 
> writes
>> After that there won't be any way for them to complain that a mistake 
>> has been made, because the National Identity Register system is 
>> designed to reject complaints apparently coming from a deceased 
>> person. And no-one else can complain on their behalf, because that 
>> would be against the Data Protection Act.
> 
> Although the DPA doesn't apply to dead people (it's framed in terms of 
> "living individuals"). A good yarn apart from that! Although there's a 
> different Catch-22 there, because the individual *is* still living so 
> the DPA would indeed apply - it's just that while HMG thinks they are 
> dead...

You have forgotten doublethink, Winston. It is already practiced widely 
by government departments, especially the tax people. They'd absolutely 
revel in applying it here:

[phone call to HMRC call centre]
Caller: "Hello, HMRC? I'm calling on behalf of my husband  ..."
HMRC: "Sorry, I'm afraid we can't enter into any discussions with third 
parties because of the Data Protection Act. Your husband must call us 
himself."
Caller: "But you won't take his phone calls, you say you've got him down 
as deceased."
HMRC: "He's deceased is he? Ah, in that case the Data Protection Act 
doesn't apply and we can speak to you after all. How can we help?"
Caller: "You've frozen all his bank accounts."
HMRC: "Yes, that's right, we always do that with deceased persons."
Caller: "But he's not dead, he's alive."
HMRC: "He's alive? Are you sure?"
Caller: "Of course I'm sure, he's my husband."
HMRC: "Well in that case I'm afraid we can't enter into any discussions 
with third parties, because of the Data Protection Act. Your husband 
must call us himself ... "

[rinse and repeat]

-- 
Pete Mitchell