Government Can't Have Clubcard Data, Says Tesco

Supermarket giant Tesco has refused to pass on its Clubcard data to the UK Government, which is requesting companies hand over their customer data as part of a plan to help compile the national census.

According to a report published in Marketing Magazine, 15 retail, banking and utilities brands, which belong to lobbying body the Demographics User Group (DUG), have recently been in talks with government officials regarding the request.

The DUG states on its web site that one of its future aims is to press for the Office for National Statistics to improve population measurement.

This year's census, which takes place on 27 March, is projected to cost up to £500m. Resulting data will be used to help plan public services such as school places, hospitals and transport.

However, Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude is advocating saving money by scrapping the scheme, and instead using databases held by a variety of private sector firms and credit-checking agencies to collect the necessary data.

Clubcard Director Janet Smith told Marketing Magazine why the supermarket chain wouldn't be participating in the Government's plans: 'One of the key reasons our customers trust Clubcard is because they know Tesco would never compromise on the promise we make them. To do so would be to jeopardise not only customers' trust, but also the success of the scheme.'

Separately, the UK Government has launched the 'Public Data Corporation' initiative, with a goal to 'open up opportunities for developers, businesses and members of the public to generate social and economic growth through the use of data'. This, it claims, will help make government-held data easier to access and use, and deliver value to the taxpayer who funds the collection and maintenance of such data.

Web sites: www.tesco.com , www.demographicsusergroup.co.uk and www.statistics.gov.uk .