A fast-track procedure for removing barriers to the sharing of personal data between organisations is among legal reforms urged in a wide-ranging review on data protection commissioned by the Prime Minister.

The review, by Information Commissioner Richard Thomas and Dr Mark Walport, director of the Wellcome Trust, criticises the ‘absence of clear legal advice either specifically sanctioning or preventing information sharing’. As a result, decisions are deferred for fear of making a mistake.

The review calls on the government to take an active part in moves to reform the European directive underpinning the 1998 Data Protection Act. It also proposes primary legislation to create a fast-track procedure for removing or modifying existing legal barriers to data-sharing. This would enable barriers to be removed where the government has demonstrated a ‘genuine case’.

Penalties for unlawful handling of personal information should increase to mirror those available to the Financial Services Authority, the review said.