Leukaemia wrangle taken to Lords

A three-year struggle over the release of childhood leukaemia figures in Dumfries and Galloway has been taken to the House of Lords.

The Common Services Agency (CSA), which holds the data, has appealed against rulings ordering its disclosure.

Scotland's information commissioner and Court of Session judges have ordered the figures to be made public.

The case stems from a freedom of information request by a Green party worker. A judgement is due in June.

The test case followed a request for information about childhood leukaemia cases in Dumfries and Galloway by census ward.

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The CSA said there had been 15 cases in the region between 1990 and 2001 but said it was concerned that providing greater detail could lead to the identification of living patients.

Scottish Information Commissioner, Kevin Dunion, ruled that the statistics should be released, but the CSA appealed against that ruling.

Then the Court of Session upheld the commissioner's view that it was possible for the information to be provided in a form which would not risk identification.

However, the CSA insisted there was an issue of "patient confidentiality" and appealed to the House of Lords.

It has now heard evidence from both sides and a ruling is expected later this year.

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