Pinsent Masons Partner Appointed to Scottish Government Panel to Increase Public Confidence in IT-enabled Public Service

11 September 2008

Rosemary Jay, a partner at international law firm Pinsent Masons, has today been appointed by the Scottish Government to a new panel to help increase public confidence in IT-enabled public services, including online council tax payments, using cards in libraries or paying for parking on a mobile phone.

Jay, who heads up the firm’s highly regarded Information Law practice, will be part of a group of eight advisors which will develop a draft set of guiding principles for public bodies to ensure that they properly protect individuals’ privacy when handling their information. Paul Gray, the Scottish Government’s director of change and corporate services, chairs the group.

The group will advise the Scottish Government on high level principles on identity assurance and privacy for public services which are enabled by IT. It will also provide high-level advice on the draft Biometrics Technologies in Schools Guidance and consider appropriate uses of biometric and other technologies in relation to public services in Scotland.

Helen Ridge, head of Pinsent Masons' Manchester office, said: “We are delighted by Rosemary's appointment by the Scottish Government to this unique role, which reflects her position as one of the foremost information law experts in the UK. Rosemary is a great ambassador for our Manchester office, and we are pleased to have her advising the Scottish Government in this capacity.”

Jay has specialised in data protection for over twenty years and is ranked as one of the UK's top lawyers in the area, advising public bodies, multi-nationals and private organisations on privacy, confidentiality, data protection, access and related information law issues. 

Other group members include:

  • Ken Macdonald, Assistant Commissioner for Scotland, Information Commissioner’s Office
  • Duncan Macniven, Registrar General for Scotland, General Register Office for Scotland
  • Charles Raab, Professor of Government, Edinburgh University
  • Alan Kirkwood, Chair, Socitm (Society of IT Managers) Scotland
  • Jerry Fishenden, lead technology advisor, Microsoft UK
  • Gus Hosein, Senior Fellow, Privacy International
  • Gareth Crossman, Policy Director, Liberty.

For further information please contact:

Joshua Van Raalte or Richard Leonard
Brazil (PR agency for Pinsent Masons)
joshua@agencybrazil.com
T: 01865 725 269

Vincent Gray
Pinsent Masons
vincent.gray@pinsentmasons.com
T: 0207 490 6276

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