§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Data Protection Registrar about identity cards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThere have been no discussions with the Data Protection Registrar on identity cards. The question of a national identity card scheme is kept under review. If a decision was made to introduce a scheme there would be a full consultation exercise.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with other Government Departments regarding the possible introduction of personal identifiers; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleI refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to a Question from the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 15 July at column778.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with private sector companies regarding the introduction of identity cards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleSome of the technical issues concerning identity cards have arisen in discussions which officials have had with private sector companies in the context of a wider study of smartcard applications in Government. If we decided to pursue the idea of an identity card scheme there would be a full consultation exercise.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the fraudulent use of identity cards in those EC countries where they are compulsory; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Charles WardleThe Home Office holds no information about the fraudulent use of identity cards in European Union countries. Information is compiled by the Immigration Service about the detected incidences of fraudulent use of identity cards at the point of entry to the United Kingdom.
In 1993 there were 60 recorded instances of the attempted fraudulent use of an identity card of the six European Union countries which have a compulsory identity card scheme.
§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about the costs of introducing an identity card scheme; and if he will make a statement.
34W
§ Mr. Charles WardleI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker) on 16 May 1994 at column338.