Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that digital identity does not become a de facto requirement for participation in (a) commerce, (b) governance and (c) daily life.
Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government’s new digital credential will focus on use cases that are most impactful for the public and will be designed to make interactions with public services easier.
We will invite views on such use cases through the public consultation that will launch in the new year.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to provide alternative identity verification routes for individuals who do not wish to submit (a) facial and (b) other biometric data in the context of the proposed introduction of digital ID cards.
Answered by Josh Simons - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
We are inviting the public to have their say in the upcoming consultation as we develop a safe, secure, and truly inclusive system for the UK.
The consultation will gather views on the scheme, including any concerns around facial and biometric data associated with a digital ID. No final decisions will be made until after the consultation.
We will ensure that the digital ID scheme complies with all data protection legislation, and user privacy will be at the heart of the design of the scheme at every stage of development and delivery.
Asked by: Andrew George (Liberal Democrat - St Ives)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what safeguards will be in place for self-employed individuals who decline to use the Government’s One Login system in 2027 on grounds of (a) conscience and (b) security.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
GOV.UK One Login is the single sign-in and identity checking solution enabling citizens to access digital government services. Over time it will replace all other sign-in methods on GOV.UK including Government Gateway.
Whilst HMRC will serve most of its customers and their intermediaries through its digital services, it will also provide targeted support so customers can access HMRC’s knowledgeable advisers in circumstances where they need that support to get their tax affairs right.
HMRC wants to encourage as many of its customers as possible to use available digital channels, but in many cases, customers have the option of using a paper form or an agent. Where the use of digital channels is required for some customers, as with Making Tax Digital, customers can apply for an exemption from these rules when it is not reasonably practicable for them to access or use digital services.