The Home Office has apologised after making a data protection blunder while circulating information about the Windrush compensation scheme.
An “administrative error” meant that emails sent to some individuals and organisations who had registered an interest in being kept informed about the launch of the scheme included email addresses of other recipients.
Five batches of emails, each with 100 recipients, were affected. No other personal data was included.
Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes disclosed the error in a written statement to the House of Commons.
She said: “Regrettably, in promoting the scheme via email to interested parties, an administrative error was made which has meant data protection requirements have not been met, for which the Home Office apologises unreservedly.”
Nokes added that a recall was commenced as soon as the problem had been identified.
“The Departmental Data Protection Officer has been informed and an internal review will be conducted to ensure this cannot happen again,” she said, explaining that the Information Commissioner’s Office has been voluntarily notified about the incident.
“I am firmly committed to doing right by the Windrush generation. The compensation scheme is an important step towards that and I will ensure that action is taken to ensure the highest standards are met not only in the processing of cases, but also in continued efforts to publicise the scheme and ensure those entitled to redress receive it,” Nokes said.
A spokesperson for the Information Commissioner’s Office said: ”The Home Office made us aware of an incident in relation to the Windrush compensation scheme voluntarily. After looking at the detail we decided that no further action was necessary.”
Details of the compensation scheme were unveiled last week.
It aims to “right the wrongs” suffered by those affected by the Windrush scandal.
Windrush lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie, who has represented several families in their fight for justice, told HuffPost UK: “It has been launched some 12 months after the scandal hit the news – that’s a very long time for people who have been suffering and destitute to have waited and this must surely act as aggravating feature of any claims.”
Up to 15,000 eligible claims totalling between £120 million and £310 million are expected to be lodged, according to the Home Office’s “central planning assumption”.