§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Home Office about the(a) possible introduction of an entitlement card scheme, (b) the use to which such a card would be put on the matters for which he is responsible and (c) the costs and funding of the scheme; and if he will make a statement. [124941]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer Friday 11 July]: There have been discussions between the Department of Health and the Home Office about a number of issues since the publication of the Government's consultation paper on entitlement cards and identity fraud. These have included circumstances where National Health Service staff need to check the identity of patients, strategies for reducing fraud, the current use of the NHS number for NHS purposes, the importance of protecting confidentiality of health information and various technical issues.