§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what studies are being undertaken by the Performance and Innovation Unit into the possibility of a national identity card; [157349]
(2) what consultations have been carried out in the past 12 months by the Performance and Innovation Unit about the possibility of a national identity card. [157346]
§ The Prime MinisterThe PIU have not carried out any formal consultation about the possibility of a national identity card.
In September last year, I asked the PIU to undertake a project looking at privacy and data issues. Lord Falconer, Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, is the Sponsor Minister for the project.
The project is analysing a broad range of issues involved in privacy and the use of personal data, including current government, private sector and international practices, structural and technological issues, public attitudes and the current legal framework. The project is also examining a range of issues to do with identification and authentication, including identification numbers and smartcards.