Clause 31 - Tampering with the Register etc.
Identity Cards Bill
9:15 am
Nick Palmer (Broxtowe, Labour)
I am grateful, Mr. Gale, but I fear that you alone in this Room hold that view.
The purpose of the amendments, which are probing, is to ask the Government what they will do to discourage hacking into the database. Hacking worries my constituents more than tampering. It is reasonably unlikely that someone will try to get into a database and, say, enter a different address, but my constituents are concerned about unauthorised access. All of us who have worked in IT will know about the more familiar type of electronic intrusion.
The amendments are, in essence, identical and they were tabled merely for the sake of completeness. It is sufficient to discuss amendment No. 196, which would, by way of modification—the favourite word of the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier)—add the words “access to or”. This seems to be the more serious issue, and I would be grateful if the Minister addressed it.