NO2ID

A recent No2ID newsletter discussed the problems associated with the Tory ID bill (which appears to rescind New Labour's ID card bill). Clause 10 is regarded as contentious as described by No2Id at http://www.no2id.net/IDSchemes/2010-06- ... iefing.pdf

I discussed this with my MP who suggests that No2IDs briefing is misleading. The MP's reply was:-

"Thank you for your email. I think the comments in the briefing about clause 10 are misleading. Clause 10 does not extend section 9 of the 2006 Act, it is a re-enactment of section 38 of the 2006 Act which always applied in relation to passports. This is not a new power. The reference to qualifying credit reference agencies did not appear in the original act but was brought in by secondary legislation so has been law since 2007. The reference to “any other person specified by the Secretary of State by an order” is a repetition of the power contained in the 2006 Act and again not a new power. Clause 10 is not therefore an enhancement of the database state, it merely repeats the powers that the Secretary of State always had under section 38 of the 2006 Act and which always applied to passports."

Does this answer No2ID's concerns? I'm not qualified to be able to understand the answer!

NO2ID's briefing may be a bit mis-worded.... BUT it IS a new power, in that it did not exist before the Identity Cards Act 2006, and that it is open to expansion arbitrarily. If they were reversing the Act they would get rid of it.