§ Mr. GibbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress on(a) the Citizen Information Project and (b) the objectives of the UK Population Register. [170336]
§ Ruth KellyThe information requested falls within the responsibility of the General Registrar, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Dennis Roberts to Mr. Nick Gibb, dated 5 May 2004:
The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on progress on the Citizen Information Project and the objectives of the UK Population Register. I am replying in his absence. (170336)
The objective of the Citizen Information Project (CIP) is to put in place a common government infrastructure to enable the sharing of basic contact information (name, address, date and place of birth, sex, date of death (where relevant)) about citizens. 1502W This should lead to improved accuracy of the information held, more effective and efficient delivery of public services, and greater convenience and empowerment for citizens across the lifetime of their dealings with the state. It should also improve the base of statistical information underpinning the development and implementation of government policy.
CIP is being managed by the General Register Office, part of the Office for National Statistics. It is being taken forward as a staged project, subject to regular Ministerial review. A feasibility study was completed in 2003, and approval to proceed to the next stage of work (project definition) was announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 6 January 2004. In the project definition phase we will explore a range of options for delivering the project's aims, taking account of ongoing developments in related areas of work, including in particular the Identity Cards programme being led by the Home Office.