§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what uses his Department plans to make of identity cards; and what information would be required through the National Identity database to fulfil these roles. [177850]
§ Mr. PondThe Department is currently conducting feasibility work to establish the full impact that the introduction of a national identity card will have on its business; however, by providing a single, effective, national system of establishing identity, an identity card scheme will allow us to simplify several of the Department's current business processes.
For example, we want all people who are eligible for benefits to take up their entitlement, and information on the National Identity Register may allow us more easily to identify those people who may be entitled to claim benefit. In addition, use of an identity card will ensure that the process of establishing identity for benefit claims is both more secure and more convenient for the customer, and we also envisage that the national identity card and its supporting database will be a useful tool in countering identity fraud.
1307WThe detail of the information the Department would require will emerge as the National Identity Register is developed. However, as with existing powers relating to exchange of information, the Department will be stringent in the way that any new powers appropriate to the ID card and supporting register are applied.