Clause 14 - Use of information for verification or
Identity Cards Bill
3:45 pm
Mr Mark Oaten (Shadow Secretary of State for Home Affairs, Home Affairs; Winchester, Liberal Democrat)
These are probing amendments. I do not intend to take long.
I have a number of questions about the provision for the Secretary of State, in essence, to tell other organisations and people about information recorded on the register. In this clause, that can be done with the permission of the individual on whom information is being released. That makes sense. I understand circumstances under which an individual might want to convince a bank or similar body about their status or address. They may want information held on the register to be released to a bank. Under such circumstances, these days I would have to go in to the branch with gas bills and things. A quick way to register would be useful.
The first question to the Minister is whether he could explain the types of organisation that he envisages approaching the Government for information about an individual.
Secondly, if there were concerns about passing some information on—even if the individual had given permission—are there no-go areas for the Government? Could the Government say that it was inappropriate for certain organisations to have the information; that they were uneasy about their having material held on the register?
The third and final point is how the Secretary of State will define what consent means. In other words, what proof will the Government need that someone has agreed that the information should be passed on? Organisations or groups may have said, ''Tick the box if we can approach the Secretary of State for information.''