17 November 2004

ID cards would secure liberty, not threaten it, claims Blunkett

The Home Secretary has dismissed criticisms that his ID card scheme will be a Big Brother-style surveillance tool, instead claiming it will offer a "practical, simple and secure way" for ordinary citizens to protect and prove their identity.

In a speech to the Institute of Public Policy Research, David Blunkett went further to offset fears that the scheme would be used to provide authorities with detailed information on cardholders, suggesting that shoppers currently supply more information when they apply for a store loyalty card.

Under the proposed scheme, only personal details such as name, address, date and place of birth will be held. Alongside this will be 'biometric' information such as the imprint of a finger or scan of an iris, which establish unique personal identity.

The National Identity Register would not hold information such as medical or tax records, Mr Blunkett said.

The Home Secretary added: "Suggestions of Big Brother-style surveillance are ludicrous. For the 85% of UK households who hold at least one store loyalty card, a far greater and growing database of personal information will already be held by private industry.

"Store loyalty cards keep continuously updated details such as the size of a person's household, whether they're employed or not and the ages of their children, besides what they like to eat, where and how often they shop and even what brand of toothpaste they use. If you do hold a store loyalty card - and the odds are that you do - you have already consented to all this information being repeatedly shared with other companies without any requirement to ask again for your approval."

Mr Blunkett concluded by saying that safeguards would be factored into the scheme to ensure protection of privacy.

"I would not be prepared to let the scheme go forward if I were not convinced that we have a level of protection which ensures personal information is secure," he said.

Home Office research carried out last year found that 79% of respondents were in favour, or very much in favour, of the introduction of identity cards. Of the others, 13% were against and 8% were unsure.

(gmcg/sp)