HC Deb 13 May 2004 vol 421 cc568-70W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many biometric identifiers will be used on national identity cards. [170261]

Mr. Browne

There has been no firm decision made on how many biometric identifiers will be used on the identity card.

These decisions will be made in the light of work under way on the feasibility of different technologies and the design of processes around identity enrolment and verification.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the relationship between the proposed National Identity Register and the proposed population register. [170343]

Mr. Browne

Legislation on Identity Cards—A Consultation (CM 6178) explains that the National Identity Register and the population register are separate but complementary proposals. The Home Office is working closely with the Registrar-General for England and Wales on the development of the two proposals.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what(a) preparatory work and (b) testing he is planning to assess the (i) requirements for the design of identity cards and (ii) arrangements for application. [170348]

Mr. Browne

Over recent months the Home Office has been in wide ranging discussions with both the public and private sectors about their potential requirements for the ID cards scheme. As explained in CM 6178—Legislation on Identity Cards— A Consultation, this will now be followed by a programme definition phase. We intend to undertake volume testing from 2007 that will cover the end to end process.

Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the application process for identity cards will be(a) monitored and (b) assessed. [170349]

Mr. Browne

Legislation on Identity Cards— A Consultation (CM 6178) invites views on the governance options of the scheme.

Mr. Gerald Howarth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what alternative eye technologies his Department investigated before concluding that the iris should form the basis for an identity card. [170552]

Mr. Browne

Both retina and iris recognition were considered by the National Physical Laboratory in their evaluation of biometric technologies. It has not yet been decided that iris recognition will be used in the identity card scheme. The feasibility of using iris recognition for identity cards is under investigation.

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which companies are being considered as potential suppliers of systems for issuing identity cards. [170814]

Mr. Browne

The Home Office has not yet made any decision about which companies would be considered potential suppliers of systems for ID Cards.

Mr. Gibb

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the categories of private sector organisations that will be able to apply for accreditation to access the National Identity Register under the Draft Identity Card Bill; and whether this includes overseas(a) private sector organisations and (b) governments. [173010]

Mr. Browne

No decisions have yet been taken on the precise arrangements for accreditation of businesses or other organisations seeking verification of an individual's identity from the National Identity Register.