Ian Gibson MP (Labour) MP for Norwich North

Issues

DNA database

Dr Ian Gibson, Norwich North MP, made the folowing comment about 50,000 Norfolk people on DNA database 16 February 2007

"I'm worried about the reason for innocent people being put on the database - I could understand somebody being put on if they were convicted but people who are not charged should not be put on the database."

"It's just being done without the public knowing the DNA is being taken."

"I think there's a serious debate needed about civil liberties in relation to this."

"This information could be sold on to an employer, to insurance companies and it might hold information about diseases and illnesses and so on."

"They have said they won't do this or put DNA information on identity cards but they could change their minds five years down the line."

Freedom of Information

Evening News Lifting the lid on secret files 27 December 2006 reports. Norwich North MP Dr Ian Gibson is himself a regular user of the act. He believes it has made local authorities more open to scrutiny, but it is not being frequently used by the public.

"It has given us more power to put organisations on the spot but it seems that at the moment the public don't realise exactly what they can get out of it."

"Sometimes believe organisations need to be freer with the information and despite the act all too often they try to get out of releasing certain details."

Signed Early Day Motion 845 Freedom of Information 06 Febuary 2007

That this House expresses concern that the proposed new fees regulations under the Freedom of Information Act would allow authorities to refuse on cost grounds a high proportion of requests which they are currently required to answer; notes that the Government's consultation document recognises that this will have a greater impact on journalists, hon. Members, campaign groups and researchers than on private individuals; considers that such changes would undermine the Act's contribution to increased discussion of public affairs, accountability and trust in the work of public authorities; and calls on the Government not to proceed with the proposals.

Internet Censorship

Signed an Early Day Motion Freedom of Expression and the UN Internet Governance Forum 30 October 2006

That this House notes with concern that internet repression is hampering freedom of expression across the world especially in Iran, Vietnam, the Maldives and China; urges companies in China, including Microsoft, Google and Yahoo, to reveal which words they have banned from blogs or have filtered out of web searches; requests that they make public all their agreements with the Chinese authorities and publicly call for the release of cyber-dissidents jailed for expressing peaceful opinions online; welcomes Amnesty International's irrepressible.info campaign to ensure that the internet remains a tool for political freedom, not repression; and urges the UK Government to make strong representations at the UN Internet Governance Forum in Athens in November to ensure that the internet remains a tool for the free flow of information and respect for human rights and that freedom of expression is a key component to any future agreement on internet governance.

Links

News

2007-02-Norwich Evening News - 50,000 Norfolk people on DNA database: Author: Kim Briscoe, Dan Grimmer; Summary: Almost 50,000 people in Norfolk have had their DNA taken to be added to a national database despite claims it infringes civil liberties. ... Dr Ian Gibson, Norwich North MP, said: "I'm worried about the reason for innocent people being put on the database - I could understand somebody being put on if they were convicted but people who are not charged should not be put on the database."

2006-02-14 - The Guardian - Labour ID card rebels: Summary: Diane Abbott MP (Hackney North & Stoke Newington), Katy Clark MP (Ayrshire North and Arran), Jeremy Corbyn MP (Islington North), Gwyneth Dunwoody MP (Crewe & Nantwich), Mark Fisher MP (Stoke-on-Trent Central), Paul Flynn MP (Newport West), Ian Gibson MP (Norwich North), Kate Hoey MP (Vauxhall), Kelvin Hopkins MP (Luton North), Glenda Jackson MP (Hampstead & Highgate), Lynne Jones MP (Birmingham Selly Oak), John McDonnell MP (Hayes & Harlington), Robert Marshall-Andrews MP (Medway), Linda Riordan MP (Halifax), Clare Short MP (Birmingham Ladywood), Alan Simpson MP (Nottingham South), John Smith MP (Vale of Glamorgan), David Taylor MP (Leicestershire North West), Robert Wareing MP (Liverpool West Derby), Mike Wood MP (Batley & Spen)

2005-10-18 - BBC - ID card vote: rebel Labour MPs: Summary: Twenty-one Labour MPs voted against the government on the introduction of ID cards, slashing the government's majority to 32. Ian Gibson was one of those MPs.