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July 30, 2004
ID Cards
The Home Affairs Select Committee has today responded to David Blunkett's plans for national identity cards. While the committee is generally supportive of the idea in principle, MPs are concerned that the fundamental features of the scheme are poorly thought out. Furthermore, the committee criticised the Home Office, citing a lack of clarity and definition on key elements of the scheme. Hardly a resounding vote of confidence then, which isn't helped by the committee's report stating that the proposed scheme might actually aid identity fraud if cards were not properly checked. About par for the course with most of Blunkett's proposals then.MPs also expressed concerns that MI5 and MI6 would be given nearly unfettered access to the underlying database holding details (including biometric information) of every British citizen. The report goes on to state that ...
The Bill should contain an explicit reaffirmation of the right of individuals to see both the data held on them and the audit trail of who has accessed those data and on what occasions, subject only to national security and crime exemptions."The introduction of identity cards carries clear risks, both for individuals and for the successful implementation of the scheme. We are concerned by the lack of clarity and definition on key elements of the scheme and its future operation and by the lack of openness in the procurement process.
The Home Office is still refusing to release full details of costings for the scheme, with Blunkett claiming that...
I do not accept that it is appropriate to release detailed, market-sensitive information about the financial and contractual aspects of the scheme at this stage. I understand the desire for more information, but we need to balance this with our duty to ensure we get the best value for money for the taxpayer.
Which, when translated from NewLabSpeak, basically means We've done a cut-price deal in exchange for a peerage and a donation to the party. The final system will be a pile of pants, but hey, you voted for us so tough.
Just to worry you a bit further, the following is a list of organisations who would have access to the national identity database:
- Police
- MI5 & MI6
- Inland Revenue
- HM Customs and Excise
- Any government department nominated by the Secretary of State
Now tell me that Big Brother won't be watching us, especially given that last item on the list. The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, also voiced the following warning:
...we as individuals can't see our own information - the Bill takes away this right. This must be wrong, this must be quite unacceptable. We fear the balance isn't right with this particular set of proposals. There are so many unanswered questions, there are so many safeguards which we think are needed, which we are pressing for as and when the scheme comes into force. And we are concerned about function creep - the risk that the clear objectives are not set out sufficiently clearly on the face of the Bill. And yet secondary legislation, no further Act of Parliament, could be used to extend the way in which the scheme operates.
The report was discussed on the Today Programme on Radio 4, and the report itself can be found at the UK Parliament website, document numbers HC 130-I and HC 130-II. If you value your personal freedoms then I urge you to read them and push back via your MP. These proposals are too flawed to be implemented.
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Posted by Clive on July 30, 2004 1:21 PM in the category Old Stuff