ID card chief answers questions

In a web chat Chief Executive of the UK Identity and Passport Service James Hall responded to concerns that UK citizens’ have raised about the forthcoming ID card scheme and registry.

The current plan is for the ID card to contain 50 categories of biometric information, which would be stored in the registry.

Asked how the registry would keep this information secure, Mr Hall responded by saying that the registry would be “security accredited to the highest standard,” and “around this database we will have very tight controls to ensure that those able to access information have been security vetted.”

Mr Hall also stated that 3,000 people would have access to the registry database, and that this did not include various government, emergency and police agencies that would also have access.

The ID card itself will be able to store some of the biometric information that is taken from the cardholder, but not all.

“Only some parts of the information will be stored on the card itself. The full set of information will only be stored on the Register itself,” Mr Hall stated.

The debate whether the introduction of an ID card scheme would enhance the UK’s security or simply erode citizens’ civil liberties continues.

Mr Hall responded to this question by saying: “It seems to me debatable that we are actually entering a surveillance society.

“Maybe we should start arguing the case that ID Cards will reduce the threat of the surveillance society and help safeguard civil liberties.”

The introduction of the ID card scheme has been pushed back to at least 2009 for various reasons including problems implementing the technology that have to be solved. For the UK’s policing and security services, the wait for a national ID card continues to have no fixed timetable.