Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP referenced a petition opposing digital ID signed by over 3 million people, including 5,300 in her constituency. She also mentioned that Labour's manifesto did not include digital ID.
More than 5,300 of my constituents have signed a petition opposing digital ID, alongside nearly 3 million people nationally. In my own local survey, two thirds opposed it outright. Digital ID did not appear anywhere in Labour’s manifesto. The Government have no mandate for it and no consent from the public, so when will the Minister explain to the House on what democratic basis the Government believe they are entitled to enact their nationwide digital ID plan?
Modernising government was at the heart of our manifesto, and the Government are proposing this national digital ID scheme to modernise public services, improve security and streamline right-to-work checks. Since we introduced the digital veterans card, it has been downloaded 11,000 times, and 260,000 people have already downloaded the gov.uk app and 13.2 million people have started to use One Login as part of the gov.uk service. In the new year, a public consultation will be launched, alongside wider engagement with expert organisations and stakeholders. A major digital inclusion programme, backed by £11.7 million, will support those at risk of digital exclusion.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP cited the parliamentary petition against digital ID which has been signed by over 3 million people, including many in her constituency. She noted it as the fourth most signed petition in history.
The parliamentary petition against digital ID has been signed by more than 3 million people, including many in my Gordon and Buchan constituency. It is the fourth most signed petition in history. Why does the Minister think digital ID is so unpopular?
It is up to the Petitions Committee to schedule those debates, and I am sure the Committee will schedule that debate in Westminster Hall in due course. I can only reiterate that the Government are proposing this national ID scheme to modernise public services, improve security, streamline right-to-work checks and give the public control over their data. We have an analogue government with a digital population, and we live in a new world where the economy is modernising and digitising all the time, and government has to catch up.
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Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide a specific reason for why digital ID is unpopular but reiterated the benefits of the system.
Reiterated The Benefits Without Addressing The Issue
Response accuracy