Dead in the water

That was the phrase used by the shadow chancellor of the exchequer George Osborne on national radio news this morning in reference to the UK government’s plans to introduce a biometric-based national identity scheme. It follows revelations that the computer discs containing the confidential information - including bank account details - of all 25 million child benefit recipients in the UK has been lost by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The likelihood that the missing discs have fallen into the hands of a criminal gang – rather than disappearing into a landfill site somewhere – are pretty slim. All the same, you have to question the competence of a Government department that thinks it’s OK to send unencrypted discs containing the personal details of half the UK population through the post.

The multi-billion pound national ID scheme – which is about to go to procurement – has no clear rationale, relies on untried and unproven technology, and represents a fundamental danger to civil liberties. Good riddance to bad rubbish.