Nope.
Data protection act applies to paper too - sometimes.

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/29/section/1#commentary-c1818424 - section 1c:

“data” means information which—
(c)

is recorded as part of a relevant filing system or with the intention that it should form part of a relevant filing system


*

“relevant filing system” means any set of information relating to individuals to the extent that, although the information is not processed by means of equipment operating automatically in response to instructions given for that purpose, the set is structured, either by reference to individuals or by reference to criteria relating to individuals, in such a way that specific information relating to a particular individual is readily accessible.


So - if you have a huge pile of boxes of info, unsorted, and it's gonna take you a week to find it, it's not covered.

If however you can pull an individuals file by name, phone-number, or some other identifier, it is - even if it's paper.
(there are some exemptions for public bodies)

I think this changed ~2005
(speedevil, Thu 11 Nov 2010, 2:06, Reply)