ID cards register is 'up and running'

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

The identity commissioner has told MPs that the controversial National Identity Register (NIR) is now "up and running".

Speaking to members of the Home Affairs Committee, Sir Joseph Pilling revealed that as of 19 November there were 538 people on the NIR. All except one were UK nationals.

Sir Joseph, who is being paid £44,000 for the first six months work, said he would be reporting directly to Home Secretary Alan Johnson rather than to MPs. He said his role was to provide "public information" about the ID card scheme - not to judge whether the scheme itself was a good or bad idea.

The commissioner was also keen to stress his independence from government. Sir Joseph told MPs that Johnson had instructed him to be as independent as possible.

"If it was a safe pair of hands they were looking for I am probably the wrong person," he said.

Sir Joseph said he would be "consulting widely" on his new role, which the Home Office says is to act on behalf of the public to ensure the information held on the database is accurate and secure.

He said his role was "helping citizens, including their elected representatives, to find out how it is working".

The former top civil servant at Northern Ireland Office, said the fact the ID cards contained fingerprints and other security measures, meant they would be difficult to forge.

Sir Joseph also admitted he agreed to take on the role initially for 18 months, dependent on the general election result. Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have said they will scrap the ID cards scheme if elected.

Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrats' shadow home affairs spokesman, said he hoped Sir Joseph's job only lasts for another six months.