NO2ID

Monday 1/3/10

HmOff, Biometrics Post Offices [1 March 2010] Column 881W
- which ones have biometric facilities, and next five years [318771], UKBA has a trial with 17 post offices (list given), and IPS has yet to commence the competition for prospective partners to operate the concession, IPS current arrangement with Post Office does not involve biometric enrolment.
[ OJEU notice referred here, 2nd post ]

Treasury, Government Departments Personal Records [1 March 2010] Column 916W
- cross-government change of circumstances service, also identity management service [318844], see "Putting the frontline first: smarter government" (pub. Dec 2009) from http://www.hmg.gov.uk/frontlinefirst.aspx for details and docs which use words like "digitalising" (no, really).
Main doc is aka cm7753 also available from official-documents.gov.uk


Lords 1/3/10

Digital Economy Bill [HL] Rept 1st Day [01 March 2010] Column 1217
Further discussion of this burn-it-and-start-again-from-scratch Bill.

Tuesday 2/3/10

HmOff, Automatic Number Plate Recognition [2 March 2010] Column 1048W
- accuracy of data stored on ANPR databases [318115]
"Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems are owned and operated by individual police forces. Number plates read by police force cameras are fed into local Back Office Facility (BOF) databases before being forwarded to the National ANPR Data Centre (NADC) which is managed by the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA).
Chief Constables are "data controllers in common" for ANPR data and are responsible for the accuracy of the data. The National ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) ANPR Standards (NAAS) set out clearly the criteria for ANPR data quality.
While no estimate has been made of the proportion of incorrect interpretations of number plates, an image of the plate is stored with each record of a sighting. The plate text is never used without the image being viewed and such information would not be acted upon without further information or intelligence."
[ there was a programme on recently ("cops cars cameras"?) about an 'ANPR sweep' or some such - I'm wondering if it's worth digging up to check... ]

Wednesday 3/3/10

DoH, Departmental Data Protection [3 March 2010] Column 1210W
- revisions of Caldicott Guardian Manual 2006 [319895], 'will be published soon'

HmOff, Communications Capabilities Directorate [3 March 2010] Column 1267W
[ Remembering that this is the new department to handle the Intercept Modernisation Programme. Oh hang on, there's an "and" there... ]
- expenditure [318267]
"The Communication Capabilities Directorate brings together work to ensure that, in a changing communications environment, communications data and interception of communications can continue to protect the public and save lives. This includes implementing the European Union data retention directive and looking at how communications data capabilities can be maintained in the future as technology continues to evolve through the Interception Modernisation Programme. The Directorate is also working with public authorities to improve training around the use of communications data to maximise efficiencies as suggested by feedback to the 2009 public consultation 'Protecting the Public in a Changing Communications Environment'. The Directorate has incurred expenditure of £14 million since it was established. This includes resources, facilities and capital expenditure. "
[ emph added ]
- contracts put out to tender [318269], 'no details, national security'
[ but surely details will appear in some company's accounts somewhere, or the auditors and/or taxman might be unimpressed...? ]

HmOff, Vetting [3 March 2010] Column 1287W
- how many CRB checks [318318], table given showing certificates issued, per year since 2002, 2-3 million per year, last year 3.2 million


Lords 3/3/10

Digital Economy Bill [HL] Rept 2nd Day [03 March 2010] Column 1453
[ further discussion, haggling over amendments etc... ]

Thursday 4/3/10 - 1 of 2

HmOff, Identity and Passport Service [4 March 2010] Column 1381W
- planning applications,. last 18 months [319665], two, details given
[ the interesting stuff is further back than that, though I think it was listed as from the facilities management company, not IPS...? ]

HmOff, Identity and Passport Service Manpower [4 March 2010] Column 1382W
- number of staff, last couple of years and projected for 2015 [318706], 3619 in 2006/7, 4078 in 2008/9 (includes GRO staff), no projected headcount for 2015
[ another pet peeve of mine that refuses to go away : as the full answer makes clear, the figures are already published in the annual reports - perhaps there's a need for an official-publication version of LMGTFY... ]

HmOff, Identity Cards [4 March 2010] Column 1382W
- which departments/bodies/etc will have access to NIR info [318708], none will have direct access though some may be provided with info [ *sigh* pay attention at the back there ]
- if Home Sec will make it policy not to introduce compulsory cards [318715], 'cards are voluntary' (etc), "... Identity cards are all about personal choice and the introduction of identity cards, which has now started for British citizens, is on a voluntary basis."

Thursday 4/3/10 - 2 of 2

Identity Cards EU Action [4 March 2010] Column 1382W
- relationship between IPS and Project Stork [318770]
"The Identity and Passport Service is leading the UK contribution to Project Stork as a member of a consortium within the EU who are working together to pilot a cross border solution for the delivery of e-services. The project is part of the European Union Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme."
[ a bit of a change from 'I have no idea'. LMGTFY. www.eid-stork.eu etc ]

HmOff, Passports Fraud [4 March 2010] Column 1384W
- fraudulent passport applications [319577], "IPS estimates that in the calendar year 2009 there were 13,396 fraudulent passport applications. The number of confirmed frauds detected in 2009 was around 8,600 of which 167 involved identity theft. [...]"
[ the method of estimation was described some time ago - IIRC a percentage sample of applications are reviewed in detail ]

Statements, DoH, GP Practices (Registration) [4 Mar 2010] Column 116WS
- registering with any GP you like, presumably anyone opposing the Spine will now be cast as denying healthcare choice and I have a suspicion that there will be a remarkable correlation between pilot areas and the Spine early-adopters.

Friday 5/3/10

HmOff, Identity and Passport Service Contracts [5 March 2010] Column 1503W
- if Check-and-Send to be included in contracts [319962], IPS will have the option "to include the "Check and Send" service as part of the Front Office Services if deemed appropriate after further discussion with the suppliers down selected at the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage."

Monday 8/3/10 - 1 of 2

Debates, Crime and Security Bill [8 Mar 2010] Column 32
Division No. 101 [ Crime and Security Bill] [8 Mar 2010] Column 68
An attempt to reduce the retention time from six down to three years, unsuccessful.

HmOff, Automatic Number Plate Recognition [8 March 2010] Column 110W
- legislative arrangements wrt capture/storage/use of data [320273], DPA, RIPA, plus guidance issued by NPIA on behalf of ACPO
- how much data [320274], "On 2 March 2010, 10,674,058 ANPR reads by the police service were registered with the National ANPR Data Centre."

HmOff, Biometrics [8 March 2010] Column 110W
- plans for new enrolment centres [318769]
"Alan Johnson [holding answer 25 February 2010]: The contract which the UK Border Agency has with Post Office Ltd. allows for eight post offices to be added to the pilot in the financial year 2010-11. No decision has yet been taken on whether to take up this option.
The Identity and Passport Service's (IPS) current planning assumptions allow for the provision of biometric enrolment centres during 2012. These will be delivered both through IPS offices as in-house services, and also by third party concession arrangements with one or more partners.
In the meantime the system currently in use by IPS for identity card enrolment for British citizens will continue to be incrementally rolled out, taking account of public demand and how we can achieve maximum benefit for the UK and its residents."
[ 'planning assumptions' should not be confused with actual 'planning' as previous answers have revealed e.g. no estimates of demand - the 'planning assumptions' appear to be little more than e.g. 'people who turn up will probably want somewhere to sit while they wait'. ]

Monday 8/3/10 - 2 of 2

HmOff, Identity Cards [8 March 2010] Column 123W
- if it will be policy to oppose a merger of NIR into a European ID database [318712], 'see ICA2006 for scope of NIR, no plans to change'

HmOff, Identity Cards Cheshire [8 March 2010] Column 123W
- how many applications in Cheshire and Crewe-and-Nantwich [320875], info not available, "... However as of 3 March 2010 there have been 4,307 applications for identity cards from people living in the north-west of England, including Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cumbria."
[ this will be the 'totals' information from the Manchester office, rather than anything extracted from 'temp_NIR.xls' ]

HmOff, Personation Essex [8 March 2010] Column 125W
- how much fraud by personation [320655], 'info not held centrally', and not possible to separate cases from other 'fraud by false representation' cases.

Tuesday 9/3/10

HmOff, Communications Capabilities Directorate [9 March 2010] Column 220W
- how many staff [318268], 147, to be 'reduced significantly' in 2011

HmOff, Identity Cards Databases [9 March 2010] Column 224W
- under what circumstances can information be provided from NIR and to whom [314334], see Act plus SIs/Regs, and "So far, information has been provided to the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office so that the UK Border Agency and consular posts abroad can be notified of any identity cards that have been reported lost or stolen."
[ So does this mean that people have *already* lost their cards? Their new shiny pride and joy? ]

HmOff, Identity Cards Marketing [9 March 2010] Column 224W
- how much spent on marketing/branding/etc [305109]
* £1,299,000 on buying advertising space (for Manchester/NorthWest/London)
* £87,700 on developing and printing marketing material (for Manchester/NorthWest/London)
* £11,930 on branding
* £0 (nothing) on public relations

Obviously the constant speeches, meetings, launches and press appearances by Ministers don't count in the public relations budget!

I'm not sure how you would go about calculating the costs of all of that but I think it would probably dwarf everything else.
Podium rental, microphone maintenance, autocue setup, event planners, snacks, tea, event security, bio-hazard protection (with optional green custard repellant), extra policing for ministerial visits, tickets for everybody to get there...
Plus 'mylifemyid'*, 'idsmart', etc.

Yup, absolutely zero cost for public relations. The Minister Has Spoken. It Is Truth.


* final report of course will never see the light of day, the holding page has now gone and the DNS record seems to have been blanked as well.

Wednesday 10/3/10 - 1 of 2

MoD, Ex-servicemen Identity Cards [10 March 2010] Column 344W
- when first veterans' cards will be issued [321388]
"The Ministry of Defence is in discussion with the Identity and Passport Service about the possible introduction of a veteran's variant of the National ID Card, which would both guarantee identity and previous service in HM armed forces. Timescales for any subsequent roll-out have yet to be finalised."
[ assuming it's going to be a single standardised veteran's card, that means we will have a total of *four* cards under the heading of "single proof of identity" ]

HmOff, Departmental Data Protection [10 March 2010] Column 359W
- inappropriate use of information, disciplinaries [313461]
* Falsified records and manipulated Home Office systems: 5
* Unauthorised access to a database or allowing another person to use their log in: 6

HmOff, Identity Cards [10 March 2010] Column 361W
- what proportion of estimated "49 million products" issued 2012-2017 will be ID cards [315002]
"[...] we expect approximately 32 million passports and 17 million identity cards. These are total product volumes, including transactions associated with the replacement of lost or damaged items, but excluding transactions that do not require product issuance, such as changes of address.
It is Government policy that the public will be able to purchase a passport or an identity card or both. [...]"

Wednesday 10/3/10 - 2 of 2

DfCSF, Children Databases [10 March 2010] Column 364W
- retention of 'Unique Pupil Number' and 'Unique Learner Number' [319610], UPN is from first entry to school, remains throughout school career, ULN allocated in later years by Learning and Skills Council
"[...] The Department currently holds all of the UPNs and ULNs it has collected via the School Census in the Department's national pupil database (NPD). The NPD is a longitudinal database, containing pupil and student characteristic information from the School Census, matched to attainment data at each key stage. [...] The information currently held in the NPD allows for the tracking of pupil attainment at key stage 5 with their achievement back to key stage 1.
Our retention policy, including archiving data with the national archive, is currently being developed as part of gaining accreditation to ISO 27001."

DfCSF, Schools Biometrics [10 March 2010] Column 375W
- how many complaints, last three years [320123], records not kept but search of correspondence shows total of 34
[ these would be complaints to the department itself rather than local authorities etc ]

CabOff, Census (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 [10 March 2010] Column 378W
- timetable [320714], "The Census (England) Regulations 2010 were laid before both Houses
on 4 March and will come into force on 31 March."


Lords 10/3/10

Passports [10 March 2010] Column WA83
- signatures required for passport deliveries [HL2464], depends on address, 'high risk areas', 'known postcode hotspots' etc, 'kept under review'

Thursday 11/3/10

MoJ, Information Commissioner's Office Complaint [11 March 2010] Column 474W
- how many complaints to ICO has not been investigated within eight months [318381], details given

Statements, DfCSF, Common Assessment Framework [11 Mar 2010] Column 23WS
"The Minister for Children, Young People and Families (Dawn Primarolo): I am announcing today progress in the implementation of the National electronic Common Assessment Framework system (National eCAF).
Many children and young people in England need support from a range of services because they have additional needs. The Common Assessment Framework (CAF), which came about as part of the Every Child Matters reforms, plays a crucial part in delivering this for them. The CAF is designed to help practitioners to assess the additional needs of children and young people when they emerge, and to work together to meet them. CAF is used only with the consent of children and young people, or their parents and carers as appropriate. Since its introduction in 2006 thousands of practitioners have been trained in the CAF and are now using it successfully in their day-to-day work.
[...]"
[ And see http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/ecm/ecaf for further info ]


Lords 11/3/10

Police National Computer [11 March 2010] Column WA105
- how many individuals on PNC [HL2537]
"The police national computer (PNC) contains records from a number of separate databases. Records of individuals are held on the names and drivers databases and as of 26 February 2010 these held 9,769,955 and 53,246,896 records respectively. Some of the names included in the figures quoted could be registered firearms certificate holders.
These data are normally used for management information only and are not subject to the detailed checks that apply for National Statistics publications.
These figures are also not mutually exclusive in that the same record may be included in more than one database."

Monday 15/3/10 - 1 of 2

HmOff, Identity Cards Procurement [15 March 2010] Column 611W
- a fairly in-depth question covering contracts and aspects of the procurement process [314812]
"[...]
(b) It took eight months to create the Strategic Supplier Group Framework from which the Transforming Customer Experience, National Identity Assurance Service (NIAS) and the Critical Workers Identity Card (CWIC) contracts were awarded. For the Passport Book Design Production contract the pre-procurement process was eight months.
[...]
The values of the contract awarded are - Transforming Customer Experience (TCE) £385 million, National Identity Assurance Service (NIAS) £265 million, Critical Workers Identity Cards (CWIC) £18 million and Passport Design Production (PDP) £400 million.
[...]"
[ the only one of those I recall seeing listed anywhere in the framework/prospectus was the PDP - TCE sounds familiar but that might be because it's such a management-speak expression... ]

HmOff, National Identity Register [15 March 2010] Column 613W
- monetary value of contracts in framework agreements [318321], details given, Thales, CSC and IBM

Monday 15/3/10 - 2 of 2

DoH, Medical Records Children [15 March 2010] Column 642W
- if parents can opt out on behalf of children [322229], "Current policy permits parents ... to request ..." and "The decision ... is made by the child's general practitioner ..." plus "... policy is presently being reviewed in the context of the safeguarding children agenda ..."
[ that last bit sounds potentially nasty ]
[ oh, and to state "current policy" has me thinking "at this stage" and it's Mike O'Brien saying it so that's double-guilty... ]

DBIS, Students Personal Records [15 March 2010] Column 715W
- information gathered when students enrol for courses [321678], "For universities, the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) agrees and reviews the standard requirements of the Student Record, to be completed on enrolment. [...]"
[ the URL for the record details appears to be http://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php/compone ... ndex.html/ where there appears to be a link to a page with the specification ]


Lords 15/3/10

Digital Economy Bill [HL] Third Reading [15 March 2010] Column 457
More.

Passports [15 March 2010] Column WA136
- lost/stolen/etc passports since 2005, how many lost in delivery [HL2465], tables given [ truckload not included presumably because they were blanks i.e. pre-delivery ]

Tuesday 163/10

HmOff, Proof of Identity [16 March 2010] Column 754W
- which major retailers accept CitizenCard [321952], no specific information, and "The Government support PASS, which is the national proof-of-age accreditation scheme. PASS sets minimum standards for proof-of-age cards including CitizenCard. The PASS hologram on a card is the hallmark indicating that the card issuer has passed a stringent audit carried out by trading standard officers. PASS cards are easily recognisable both to retailers and young people and provide assurance that the age details on the card are correct."

Treasury, Revenue and Customs Data Protection [16 March 2010] Column 760W
- steps to improve data security since 2008-09 [317291], details given

DoH, Medical Records Publicity [16 March 2010] Column 774W
- what spent on leafleting in London and England wrt SCR [322230], details given, around 6 million info packs produced in Jan/Feb [ and sent, apparently ]

DoH, NHS ICT [16 March 2010] Column 775W
- contract negotiations, timetable for completion [322232], 'department routinely engages', 'numerous occasions'
- what meetings, timetables, minutes [322233], "Formal minutes of meetings since the beginning of January have not been taken."

Wednesday 17/3/10

DfCSF, Children Databases [17 March 2010] Column 906W
- if pupil or learner numbers are part of ContactPoint record [319611], only if supplied as part of information as system uses own numbering

HmOff, Identity Cards [17 March 2010] Column 956W
- work relating to introduction of compulsory cards [318713], "... the Identity and Passport Service has not commissioned any research or other work on the possible future introduction of compulsory identity cards."
[ Is this one true? Or are we in the realms of 'strictly speaking, technically...'? ]
[ *rummage* : it might be that IPS's predecessor had done some but the answer is specific to the IPS... ]

Statements, HmOff, Police National Database Code of Practice [17 Mar 2010] Column 63WS
"The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Meg Hillier): My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary today has laid before the House a statutory code of practice on the operation and use of the Police National Database (PND). The code of practice is made under section 39A of the Police Act 1996, following a public consultation exercise which finished at the beginning of February 2010.
[...]
The PND will not hold new information - it will store intelligence and other information held on local force systems-but there will be concerns about how this information is used. The code of practice is one of a number of important safeguards that will help to prevent misuse of the new system. [...]"


Lords 17/3/10
National Identity Register [17 March 2010] Column WA192
- guidance to contractors on whether staff are permitted to engage in industrial action without breaching Section 29(3) of the Identity Cards Act 2006 [HL2625], none issued, provisions exist in contracts to cover lawful industrial action

NHS Medical Records [17 March 2010] Column WA196
- information and support for PCTs and GPs wrt introduction of SCRs [HL2603], guidance and information packs prepared, and "Before they are expected to create SCRs for patients, GP practices will receive appropriate training and software upgrades."

Thursday 18/3/10

Statements, HmOff, Protecting Crowded Places from Terrorist Attack [18 Mar 2010] Column 70WS
Needless to say these 'published' documents ("publishing today on the Home Office website") have yet to appear anywhere that I have seen so I have no idea whether they include references to mass scanning, monitoring, ID checks and travel papers to go shopping etc but to be fair there might be some sensible stuff in there too.

Statements, HmOff, Retention and Disclosure of Records (Independent Review) [18 Mar 2010] Column 73WS
"The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Alan Johnson): I am today publishing the report of the Independent Adviser for Criminality Information Management, Mrs. Sunita Mason, into the arrangements for retaining and disclosing records on the police national computer (PNC), together with the Government's response.
[...]
On disclosure of records, while Mrs. Mason considers that the current arrangements for sending information to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) should be maintained, she is not persuaded that employers always need to see old and minor records. She suggests that some rules are developed to filter out such cases and that a non-statutory panel be established to provide Ministers with further advice in this area. This impacts on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) and cannot be considered in isolation from that legislation.
[...]"


Lords 18/3/10

Children Act 2004 Information Database (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 [18 March 2010] Column 737
Motion to Approve, and discussion thereof.

NHS Medical Records [18 March 2010] Column WA226
- what factors considered before full rollout of SCR [HL2602], see http://www.haps.bham.ac.uk/publichealth ... t_2008.pdf
- assessment of public information wrt SCR [HL2604], done during early adopter phase, updated info published June 2009, now available in a wide variety of languages and formats

Monday 22/3/10

HmOff, Identity Cards [22 March 2010] Column 59W
- whether biometric passports classed as part of ID scheme [318714]
"Alan Johnson: The issues of identity cards as well as the introduction of fingerprint biometric passports are part of the National Identity Service. The provisions of the Identity Cards Act 2006 will be amended by further primary legislation so that everyone aged 16 and over who applies for a British passport will have the choice of being issued with an identity card or a passport (or both documents) and for their identity details, including facial image and fingerprint biometrics, to be recorded on the same National Identity Register."

Edit: cleverly missed one in Topical Questions

Debates, HmOff Qs, Topical Questions [22 March 2010] Column 18
- why can the scheme not give stats for applications for a constituency [322964]
"Hillier : I forgive the hon. Gentleman for not appreciating that an Act of Parliament passed by this House in 2005 - before he was elected - states that it is illegal to interrogate the database to gather such information."
[ 2005? Not quite. ]

Tuesday 23/3/10

Debates, Statement, DFCA, UK Passports (Use in Dubai Murder) [23 Mar 2010] Column 133
The point of relevance on this one is where the Minister effectively says "don't give your passport to anyone because they might copy it", hints at fingerscan biometrics helping security. Obviously this advice would equally apply to ID cards.
NB anything non-passport related is off-topic and best discussed elsewhere.

HmOff, Passports [23 March 2010] Column 164W
"Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of British citizens who hold a valid (a) UK passport and (b) UK biometric passport. [317215]
Meg Hillier: The latest estimate is that in September 2008 there were some 47 million valid United Kingdom passports covering some 77 per cent. of the population. The split between non-biometric and biometric passports (which were first issued in 2006) is not available. "
[ So, 77 percent, not 80 - wondering when the next estimate is likely to be, and in which direction it changes ]

Wednesday 24/3/10

HmOff, DNA Databases [24 March 2010] Column 343W
- a couple of good questions on usefulness of 'unconvicted' DNA retention [315673], [315674], "...The specific information ... not available centrally."

HmOff, Entry Clearances Biometrics [24 March 2010] Column 345W
- how many enrolment centres, where, what volume next 12 months [318707], list given, 34 offices, est. volume 650-700k enrolments/cards p.a.
[ works out at approx 1600-1700 per office per month ]

HmOff, Identity Cards [24 March 2010] Column 346W
- how many applications/cards so far [323935], up to 21/3/10 "over 8900" applications, "over 8000" cards issued

HmOff, Vetting [24 March 2010] Column 352W
- time taken for CRB checks, steps to reduce [321944], somewhat non-useful answer with target-laundry, e.g. 'target 90pct enhanced check within 28 days' but current figure quoted as 'average processing time 29.9 days', because "In recent months demand has significantly exceeded forecasts and as a result, some Enhanced checks have taken longer to process as a result."

Thursday 25/3/10 - 1 of 2

These three seem to contradict what Meg has been saying in the press recently - no bus passes, no Version-2.0 cards...

HmOff, Identity Cards [25 March 2010] Column 519W
- what discussions with LGA/councils/transport services wrt concessionary fares [323808]
"Meg Hillier [holding answer 23 March 2010]: There have been no such discussions. [...]"

HmOff, Identity Cards Fees and Charges [25 March 2010] Column 521W
- fees collected [323936], approx £115k up to end Feb
- price-tag for a Version-2.0 card [323937]
"Meg Hillier: From 2012, the Identity and Passport Service will extend the rollout of identity cards across the United Kingdom, alongside the introduction of second generation biometric passports, but there are no formal plans to introduce a new model of identity card.
The fee for an identity card is £30 in 2009 and 2010, as set out in the March 2008 National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan. The level of fees that will apply in the future has not been finalised and will depend on the future fee strategy for passports and identity cards."

HmOff, National Identity Register [25 March 2010] Column 521W
- access to NIR for admin of free bus passes [323809]
"Meg Hillier [holding answer 23 March 2010]: Information cannot be provided to a local authority from the national identity register without further secondary legislation and there are no current plans to do so for the administration of concessionary bus passes. However, an individual may choose to show an identity card to a local authority or to anyone else to help verify their identity, including age."

Thursday 25/3/10 - 2 of 2

CabOff, Government Departments Data Sharing [25 March 2010] Column 512W
- what steps being taken to facilitate data sharing between departments/agencies [323962]
"[...] As part of 'Putting the frontline first: Smarter Government', the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has been tasked with making it easier for public services to join up by establishing a set of common protocols and reviewing the legal framework that governs the way in which public services exchange information.
[...]
exploring in more detail the barriers to the exchange of information between public services, and how legislative and non-legislative options might reduce these barriers and ensure proportionate and lawful information exchange can take place to improve public services, while ensuring that individuals' personal data is protected."

Statements, HmOff, Intercept as Evidence [25 Mar 2010] Column 61WS
Original suggestions not legally viable, more work to be done.
[ presumably therefore in the meantime, IMP 'essential' etc ]


Lords 25/3/10

Identity Cards [25 March 2010] Column 1064
A short q-and-a session starting with one on ID cards and bus passes, to which the reply "... there are no current plans to substitute identity cards for bus passes for the over-60s. However, an identity card is a convenient proof of age, and could be used by holders to prove that they qualify for age-related services, such as when they apply for a bus pass"
A couple more questions, cards "entirely voluntary" and "It will cost more to cancel them than to maintain them."

Passports [25 March 2010] Column WA325
- forged/stolen UK passports detected as UK boirder [HL2958], table given, last 12 months, not many, a dozen forgeries and a handful of stolen ones per month


Edit: just added a missed question in the post for 22/3/10

Monday 29/3/10

HmOff, Identity Cards [29 March 2010] Column 686W
- Identity Commissioner, powers for investigations and sanctions [324205], not a lot
- Identity Commissioner, access to historical documents [324206], IPS has provided all info requested, including copies Gateway Reviews

DoH, NHS Information and Communications Technology [29 March 2010] Column 802W
- on NPfIT 'contractor event of default notices' for 2009 [323961], list given, majority of matters addressed via existing contractual remedies

Statements, DfT, Transport Security [29 Mar 2010] Column 86WS
Airport scanners code of practice consultation, see http://www.dft.gov.uk but responses along the lines of "but these wouldn't spot an underpants bomb" probably not welcome, regardless of accuracy.


Lords 29/3/10

Crime and Security Bill Second Reading [29 March 2010] Column 1225
Lord West's opening remarks include various remarks about DNA, including e.g. "we must be careful to strike the right balance between collective security and personal rights to privacy" and at the bottom of the page (and beginning of the next) he dredges up a case from 1989 which at first glance I think deserves some scrutiny, not least because he uses it to dismiss opposition proposals.
Crime committed : 1989
Arrest and caution, DNA retained, 'minor drugs offence' : '12 years later', 2001
Cold Case file review, crime scene DNA re-profiled, database searched : 2008
So the government's proposals for six years wouldn't have worked either.
As far as I can tell, this wouldn't have needed 'retention' if the crime scene samples had been profiled and a speculative search had been done following the arrest. Which is what happens now anyway...? Or did I miss something?