Digital ID Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Christine Jardine
Main Page: Christine Jardine (Liberal Democrat - Edinburgh West)Department Debates - View all Christine Jardine's debates with the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
(1 day, 8 hours ago)
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Josh Simons
I can assure my hon. Friend that the consultation will involve going right across the country to the places where people live, to listen, to engage and to build a consensus on the scheme’s design. I should also underscore that the status quo is that we are not making enough effort to reach people who are digitally excluded and ID-excluded. This programme will involve one of the biggest digital inclusion drives in the history of the Government, to reach those people so that they can access services. I, for one, am proud of that.
Christine Jardine (Edinburgh West) (LD)
I wanted to come here today and say that I was delighted to hear that this scheme will now be voluntary, not mandatory. Frankly, I am completely confused by the farce that we have got here today. The scheme will not be free, because we know it will cost the taxpayer. I do not think we should be saying it is free. We are told it will now be voluntary, but the Prime Minister said at Prime Minister’s questions that we will have a mandatory digital scheme. May I just point out to the Minister that no constituent has ever come to me and said, “Our public services are poor quality; it would be so much better if we had a mandatory digital scheme that would improve them”? Can he please make it clear? The Prime Minister says that digital checks will be mandatory. While the digital scheme might be voluntary, if the checks are mandatory, is that not just a mandatory scheme by the back door?
Josh Simons
I think I understood the hon. Member’s question, so let me have a crack at answering it. I will address the second part of her question first. The constituents who email her, who will find this scheme useful, are asking for more joined-up public services. They are asking not to have to fight the Government to get things that they are entitled to, which is what this scheme will deliver. On the first part of her question, there is a distinction between digitising the right-to-work checks so that we can toughen up illegal labour market enforcement, which is what the Prime Minister underscored yesterday, and the digital ID, which will be free and voluntary for anyone who wants it.