We are having a debate in the office and wondered what legislation and opinions were:

If an employee has willing given their sexual orientation (ie. gay, straight etc)details to the employee – can the employer hold this data on their personnel database.

Is it illegal to hold this data?

I have looked for legislation on this point, but am not having much luck in finding it.

It might be worth mentioning, the data would only be held to prove the employer is not discriminating.

Thanks

Michelle Barker