Chatterbox Childcare
24-04-2014, 11:54 AM
I hadn't heard about this but I am going to sign just in case. Please read
Have you heard about the latest data sell-off? Right now, the taxman, HMRC, is considering a plan to sell our personal tax details to private companies. [1] Our incomes, the amount of tax we pay, and our tax histories could be sold to the highest bidder.
Tory MP David Davis has branded the plan “borderline insane”. [2] But right now, HMRC is thinking about whether to go ahead anyway. If enough of us come together to create a huge petition, it will show HMRC, and the government that we won’t stand for them selling off our tax details.
Can you sign the petition now to demand HMRC rethink these plans?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/hmrc-petition
Only a few months ago NHS England floated plans to sell off our health records. [3] The outcry was huge, with organisations like the Royal College of GPs responding furiously to the idea that individuals might be identifiable from the data. In less than 24 hours, 150,000 members of 38 Degrees pledged to opt out of the scheme. Together, we forced a change of plan. NHS England panicked and paused the sell-off for 6 months. [4]
If we act fast, we can do the same with HMRC. There is already opposition. MPs have criticised the plans. Tax experts have expressed concern, and organisations like Big Brother Watch are worried about “serious risks to privacy.” [5]
A huge petition could make headlines and embarrass HMRC into dropping the idea. Can you add your name now and stop these plans before it’s too late?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/hmrc-petition
Thanks for being involved,
Susannah, Amy, Belinda and the 38 Degrees team
NOTES
[1] BBC: HMRC ‘plans to share tax data with private firms’:
BBC News - HMRC 'plans to share tax data with private firms' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27086401)
[2] Independent: ‘Borderline insane’: Government plans to let HMRC sell taxpayers’ details to private companies:
'Borderline insane': Government plans to let HMRC sell taxpayers (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/borderline-insane-government-plans-to-let-hmrc-sell-taxpayers-details-to-private-companies-9270395.html)
[3] BBC: GPs voice fears over giant patient records database:
BBC News - GPs voice fears over giant patient records database (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26151458)
[4] 38 Degrees blog: NHS care.data: we’ve won a breakthrough!:
38 Degrees | Blog | NHS Care.data: We’ve won a breakthrough! (http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/02/19/nhs-care-data-weve-won-a-breakthrough/)
The Telegraph: NHS medical records database halted amid concerns:
NHS medical records database halted amid concerns - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10647031/NHS-medical-records-database-halted-amid-concerns.html)
[5] Guardian: Treasury must urgently explain plans to sell taxpayers’ details, says Labour:
Treasury must urgently explain plans to sell taxpayers' details, says Labour | Politics | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/20/treasury-plans-sell-taxpayers-details-labour)
Have you heard about the latest data sell-off? Right now, the taxman, HMRC, is considering a plan to sell our personal tax details to private companies. [1] Our incomes, the amount of tax we pay, and our tax histories could be sold to the highest bidder.
Tory MP David Davis has branded the plan “borderline insane”. [2] But right now, HMRC is thinking about whether to go ahead anyway. If enough of us come together to create a huge petition, it will show HMRC, and the government that we won’t stand for them selling off our tax details.
Can you sign the petition now to demand HMRC rethink these plans?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/hmrc-petition
Only a few months ago NHS England floated plans to sell off our health records. [3] The outcry was huge, with organisations like the Royal College of GPs responding furiously to the idea that individuals might be identifiable from the data. In less than 24 hours, 150,000 members of 38 Degrees pledged to opt out of the scheme. Together, we forced a change of plan. NHS England panicked and paused the sell-off for 6 months. [4]
If we act fast, we can do the same with HMRC. There is already opposition. MPs have criticised the plans. Tax experts have expressed concern, and organisations like Big Brother Watch are worried about “serious risks to privacy.” [5]
A huge petition could make headlines and embarrass HMRC into dropping the idea. Can you add your name now and stop these plans before it’s too late?
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/hmrc-petition
Thanks for being involved,
Susannah, Amy, Belinda and the 38 Degrees team
NOTES
[1] BBC: HMRC ‘plans to share tax data with private firms’:
BBC News - HMRC 'plans to share tax data with private firms' (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27086401)
[2] Independent: ‘Borderline insane’: Government plans to let HMRC sell taxpayers’ details to private companies:
'Borderline insane': Government plans to let HMRC sell taxpayers (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/borderline-insane-government-plans-to-let-hmrc-sell-taxpayers-details-to-private-companies-9270395.html)
[3] BBC: GPs voice fears over giant patient records database:
BBC News - GPs voice fears over giant patient records database (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26151458)
[4] 38 Degrees blog: NHS care.data: we’ve won a breakthrough!:
38 Degrees | Blog | NHS Care.data: We’ve won a breakthrough! (http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/02/19/nhs-care-data-weve-won-a-breakthrough/)
The Telegraph: NHS medical records database halted amid concerns:
NHS medical records database halted amid concerns - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/nhs/10647031/NHS-medical-records-database-halted-amid-concerns.html)
[5] Guardian: Treasury must urgently explain plans to sell taxpayers’ details, says Labour:
Treasury must urgently explain plans to sell taxpayers' details, says Labour | Politics | The Guardian (http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/apr/20/treasury-plans-sell-taxpayers-details-labour)