A ROW about data protection broke out in the Welsh Assembly this week after the Liberal Democrats were accused of 'double standards' over the security of personal data in their questionnaire on health services, which asked thousands of Ceredigion residents about their medical history.

Speaking on Wednesday in a debate proposed by the Lib-Dems in the Senedd about safeguarding personal data, Plaid Cymru's deputy Assembly group leader Helen Mary Jones said a leaflet published by the Lib Dems in Ceredigion asked constituents many detailed questions about their personal medical history.

"In light of their debate, this smacks of double standards. The name and address of the constituent is printed on the leaflet, so it’s clearly not confidential. We can assume that the Lib Dems would be planning to use this personal information to contact these people again and again in the future about these personal issues for their own political gain," she said.

But Welsh Lib Dem AM Jenny Randerson said: "The Welsh Lib Dems are extremely careful with all data that is volunteered to us. It is all kept strictly within data protection laws. Unfortunately. Plaid Cymru are the party with the poor record on this. On their website, they have a petition about saving post offices but it is missing the crucial data protection text which informs people how the data will be stored and what it will be used for. I understand they are on very shaky legal ground with this."

She said if Plaid Cymru has even collected a list of the names of the people who filled in that petition form, it will have broken the law.

She added: "The fact that you have challenged me and that I can turn around and challenge you indicates that we, like everyone else, must be very careful. When we collect data, we must ensure that that is not over the top but is within the law, and that we store them securely and use them only appropriately."

Afterwards Helen Mary Jones added: "We are all concerned about the serious security lapses over personal data that have happened recently and measures must be taken to avoid such incidents happening again. However I am also very concerned to know exactly what measures the Lib Dems have put in place to safeguard this personal data that they are collecting. I am calling on their new Assembly group leader to personally guarantee that any information gathered isn’t misused or misplaced."