Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, what proportion of (a) DVLA, (b) DEFRA and (c) HMRC traditional correspondence will be eliminated within five years by a move to digital ID.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The "Government by App" approach intends to modernise public services by reducing reliance on paper forms, traditional correspondence, and manual payment systems. By digitising these interactions, the Government will create a user experience that is more efficient for the public while freeing up traditional routes for those who need them.
The digitisation of government services could potentially save up to £45 billion annually. The open consultation on digital identity will directly inform the design and delivery of these services to ensure they are useful, inclusive, and secure.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, what the cost will be of running the People’s Panel.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We need to make sure digital ID works for everyone, and that’s why we’re establishing a People’s Panel on digital ID and running inclusive engagement alongside a traditional consultation.
As part of a multi-faceted consultation approach, the People’s Panel will bring together a diverse group of people - selected to be broadly representative of the population of the UK - to consider different perspectives and debate trade-offs. The People’s Panel will cost approximately £630,000.This will be covered under a pre-existing contract with Ipsos signed in March 2024.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, whether existing contact routes to accessing public services will continue to be funded at the same levels when digital ID is introduced.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to an inclusive digital identity system where existing routes to public services will continue to be available for those who prefer them.
The design and rollout of digital ID will be accompanied by an inclusion programme across the UK. This is an opportunity to empower the vulnerable and left behind in our society - inclusion will be at the heart of the design and delivery of the national digital ID.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, what procurement process was used to appoint contractors involved in delivering the people’s panel.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As per my response to PQ 119980, the People’s Panel is being delivered in partnership with Ipsos UK and their partners at the Sortition Foundation. This is part of a GCS call-off contract.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, whether any external contractors and consultancies have been engaged to recruit, manage and facilitate the people’s panel.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As per my response to PQ 119980, the People’s Panel is being delivered in partnership with Ipsos UK.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, how views expressed by the people’s panel will be weighted relative to responses received through the wider consultation.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
I refer to my response to PQ 120742.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, how long existing capacity for traditional contact methods for accessing public services will continue when digital ID is introduced.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is committed to an inclusive digital identity system where existing routes to public services will continue to be available for those who prefer them.
The design and rollout of digital ID will be accompanied by an inclusion programme across the UK. This is an opportunity to empower the vulnerable and left behind in our society - inclusion will be at the heart of the design and delivery of the national digital ID.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, who will convene and manage the People’s Panel.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The People’s Panel is being delivered in partnership with Ipsos UK, which is the primary vendor, under a pre-existing contract signed in March 2024.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, whether participation in the people’s panel will require participants to (a) use and (b) test a digital identity system.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The People’s Panel will debate how a digital ID can work for everyone. As part of this process, participants will engage with what a digital ID might look like to meet the guiding principles of trusted, useful and inclusive.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release entitled Government launches consultation on making public services quicker, easier and more secure to access with digital ID, published on 10 March 2026, whether the names of organisations responsible for recruiting or facilitating the People’s Panel will be published.
Answered by James Frith - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
As per my response to PQ 119980, the People’s Panel is being delivered in partnership with Ipsos UK and their partners at the Sortition Foundation.