ID card plan needs IT advice, say MPs

MPs are calling for an independent IT assurance committee to advise on the government’s national ID card programme.

Planning of the proposals is patchy and projected costs are potentially unreliable, says the Science and Technology Select Committee.

‘While the Home Office has determined some aspects of the scheme such as biometrics, it has left other aspects, such as the structure of the database, undetermined,’ says the report published last week.

‘While biometric technology is an important part of the scheme, it must not detract from other aspects of the programme, particularly IT.’

Consultations with industry have been limited to procurement questions and have not included discussion of details of the design, says the committee.

‘As a result the wider community does not have the levels of confidence in the scheme that could reasonably be expected at this stage,’ it says.

The committee’s report coincides with publication of details of the market-sounding exercise conducted through IT trade body Intellect.

The discussions do not constitute the consultation needed to ensure that the scheme has the best chance of success, says Intellect government practice director Nick Kalisperas.

‘What we want is consistent, open dialogue, to find solutions that are practical,’ he said.

‘We also want the politics to be taken out of the procurement so we can have a realistic timetable for delivery.’

The government says the start of the procurement, expected in the spring, has been held up pending the departmental review initiated by Home Secretary John Reid.

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