Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Digital ID Scheme: Public consultation

Thursday 5 March 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Public services aim to become more personalized and accessible through a new, free-to-access digital ID scheme.
  • The minister plans to consult the public on the design of the digital ID scheme to address misinformation and conspiracy theories.
  • The digital ID scheme will not be compulsory and will not create a central pot of data.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Standards & Ethics
Context

There is a need for public consultation on the design of a new digital ID scheme to personalise public services and improve access.

Question

What steps he plans to take to consult the public on the design of the digital ID scheme.

Answer from James Frith

Public services should be there for us when we need them, but right now it is too hard for people to get what they need. The new, free-to-access digital ID intends to change that by supporting the personalising of public services, making everyday life easier for everyone. The consultation will be launched next week to ensure that the public can have their say on how we make digital ID work for them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific steps for public consultation were not detailed beyond the launch of the consultation next week.

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Q2 Jeff Smith Lab Manchester Withington
Science & Technology Standards & Ethics
Context

Disinformation and conspiracy theories are circulating about the digital ID scheme, undermining its case.

Question

I congratulate my hon. Friend on his well-deserved elevation to ministerial office. Even though digital ID will make it easier for people to access public services and engage with public bodies, there is still an awful lot of disinformation, and frankly conspiracy theories, out there trying to undermine the case for it. Do the Government have any specific plans to try to counter those narratives as part of the consultation?

Answer from James Frith

I thank my hon. Friend for his well wishes; I am grateful for the opportunity to help to dispel any misinformation on this exciting programme of digital transformation of our public services. Let me be clear: this will not be compulsory, and there is no central pot of data. In my early conversations, I have already been assured of the security of data by design and the intentions of this plan to make digital ID not compulsory, but something that people deem for themselves to be a “must have”. It is for us to rise to this challenge in our design and delivery of it. More broadly, we want to have a national conversation. The upcoming consultation will clearly set out the Government's position on this programme.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific plans to counter disinformation and conspiracy theories were not detailed beyond the intention to dispel misinformation.

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