Section 38 – Personal information
106.This section deals with personal information (much of which may in any event be available to the individual concerned under the Data Protection Act 1998). Section 38(1) exempts absolutely personal data, of which the applicant is the subject, personal census information and the health records of a deceased person. Section 38(1)(b) exempts personal data relating to a third party (i.e. not the applicant), but only if it meets either of the conditions mentioned in section 38(2) and (3). This is an absolute exemption in circumstances where the conditions in section 38(2) and (3) are met. Where these conditions are not met the public interest test at section 2 applies.
