Have I missed something then?
Because, this information is being sold to private firms from a government agency.

Some private firms are flouting the accepted required code of conduct and fraud appears to be taking place. The clamper needs to present a certificate stating that it adhers to the BPA code of practice, however this does not seem to be enforced, nor is there sanction against those who flout the code. Indeed the Lib Dems Transport Spokesperson seems to agree with this view

"Norman Baker, Liberal Democrat transport spokesman, said: “The DVLA is betraying drivers who had entrusted it with their information.”

The government agency is not vetting whom it sells information to. Ergo I do not trust any government agency with my data in the absence of sanction against the agency making the data available in the first instance.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Fri 11 Sep 2009, 15:15, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

Right - but...
you've just admitted that the rules are being flouted, which represents quite a big shift in perspective. I'd like to see the evidence that the rules are being flouted, btw; I'm not inclined to take a newspaper story's word for it. "Some firms", "appears to be taking place" and "does not seem to be enforced" are shifty-looking formulations.

There's a huge non sequitur between your final and penultimate sentences, too. Finally, none of what you've said contributes to the wider question of centralised databases in abstracto.

Right. Work time.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 11 Sep 2009, 15:23, Reply)