Personal data gathered by one government department will be available to other areas of Whitehall, local government and agencies under proposed legislation published yesterday.

This will open the way for the bulk sharing of information across government, and reverses existing policy, in which data can only be used for the purpose for which it was gathered. Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, defended the proposal, saying that it was intended to improve public services and help to fight crime.

Opponents said that it was a further step towards a “Big Brother” state and that the Government had a poor record on protecting sensitive data. Mr Straw said that the information sharing orders, published in the Coroners and Justice Bill, would have “very strict controls”.

The Bill also includes an overhaul of the coroners’ service and resurrects proposals for parts of inquests to be held in secret.

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