Interviews about the Cost of Living Payments: Privacy notice
Who will have access to my personal data?
For the purpose of data protection legislation, the DWP are the data controllers. The National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) is the data processor for the research. This means that DWP are responsible for deciding both the purpose and legal basis for processing personal data from this research.
NatCen will carefully manage your personal data as part of our public task, which is our lawful basis for processing. This means DWP is required to carry out this research in order to perform its functions in the public interest. All the information you provide will be held in strict confidence and held securely.
NatCen will have access to the contact details of those selected for the research, survey response data and interview recordings and transcriptions. All responses will be anonymised before being analysed. Your personal data will only be accessed by certain members of the NatCen and DWP research teams.
McGowan Transcriptions is the transcription service NatCen use to transcribe interview data. They will have access to interview recordings and transcriptions. McGowan Transcriptions is from our ‘Approved Supplier List’. This means it is vetted by NatCen, and signed contracts and agreements are already in place. These are refreshed every 12 months.
How will my data be used?
The data collected will be used for research purposes only.
NatCen will write a report covering the main themes and issues that have been discussed in the interviews. NatCen will not name you in the report nor will it be possible to identify you from your interview data. The report will be published on the gov.uk website. NatCen will not share with DWP what you have personally discussed in an interview nor with any other organisation, unless what you tell us indicates that you or someone else may be at risk of harm.
At no point will the individual who is managing your claim (nor anyone at your local Jobcentre Plus) be able to identify you from your participation in an interview. Your participation will not affect your benefits now or in the future.
All data stored by NatCen will be deleted once the report has been published (no later than October 2024).
Will I have access to the data I provide in the interview?
Yes, but once the data has been analysed, made anonymous or the report has been published, we will not be able to change the findings by removing an individual’s information. However, you may request that your personal data be deleted or updated. We will let you know whether this is possible.
Who do I contact if I have a query or complaint?
To contact the research team at NatCen, please email COLP_Interview@natcen.ac.uk or call 0800 652 4568 free of charge.
To contact DWP about this research, please email research.colp@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you have any questions about how your data will be used, please contact the NatCen’s Data Protection Officer:
Data Protection Officer
NatCen Social Research
Kings House,
101-135 Kings Rd,
Brentwood
CM14 4LX
Email: dpo@natcen.ac.uk
Data Protection Officers are responsible for upholding your rights and making sure we process your information correctly.
Under GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office. Contact information:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Helpline number: 0303 123 1113
Website: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/
Live Chat: https://ico.org.uk/global/contact-us/contact-us-public/public-advice/#liveChat