Clause 23 - Rules for using information
Identity Cards Bill
11:15 am
Mr Des Browne (Minister of State (Citizenship, Immigration and Counter-Terrorism), Home Office; Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Labour)
I hope that I can deal with that relatively quickly. From the hon. Gentleman's contribution it is clear that he fully understands the clause.
To understand exactly what subsection (3)(c) means, one has to read it as a whole. It states:
''provision imposing other requirements as to the manner in which such applications must be made.''
For example, we might like to include in regulations made under paragraph (c) the information that would need to be recorded by an organisation requesting information to ensure that adequate records are kept for audit purposes, or we may want to require the organisation requesting the information to apply in a particular manner, for example, in a specific form in writing, or electronically.
It is right to work through the process in detail in respect of those affected by the clauses, rather than try to anticipate all the circumstances here in Committee. The Bill sets out in principle that organisations could have information provided without consent for the purposes that are specified in clauses 19 and 21. It would be artificial to set out in the Bill exactly how that should work, but it would be appropriate that provision should be made to say whether such requests should be made in writing or electronically. That is why the provision is included.