It should also improve security, providing a common data set that gives the authorities electronic access to some 20 documents that describe who is shipping what, whence, whither and to whom.

ECONOMIST: Bureaucracy not technology

The Payment Card Industry Security Standards Counsel has established a set of data compliance standards that all retailers should follow.

FORBES: Securing Customer Data: The Right Thing Is The Smart Thing

It is possible malicious hackers can intercept this data unless you set up a security such as a remote access virtual private network (VPN).

BBC: You could get online across London with the new plans.