9. Memorandum submitted by
the Department for Education and Skills
Thank you for your letter of 3 February about
the Committee's inquiry into all aspects of identity cards.
The introduction of an identity card could have
implications for DfES, specifically, Parents and Guardians, Further
and Higher Education and International Students. In the White
Paper "21st Century Skills" published last July, we
said that, so long as the practicalities of implementation and
data confidentiality can be resolved, we will introduce at least
the basic form of Unique Learner Number (ULN). We are working
closely with colleagues in the Home Office to ensure that our
plans for ULN fit with their plans for an ID card so that we make
sure that by using a common identifier we can reduce bureaucracy
for learners and simplify assessment for any qualification based
entitlements.
ID cards would prove the identity of learners
and this will help with establishing eligibility to publicly funded
post-16 education, including Modern Apprenticeships, Entry to
Employment (E2E), and financial support for HE students. DfES
already issues the Connexions Card free to all 16-19 year olds
who want one. It may be possible to link this with the issue of
ID cards at 16, providing further opportunities to reduce costs
and duplication through convergence with Connexions Card functionality.
Education legislation does not impose any conditions
relating to the nationality or immigration status of children
seeking entry to a maintained school. So, questions of proving
entitlement to schooling are irrelevant. However, by proving the
identity of parents of highly mobile children, this could assist
schools in the transfer of records between schools. There is also
a possible link in the use of parental identification with the
work the Department is doing on databases on all children that
will, among other things, help ensure that all children get into
education.
If international students and their dependents
were guaranteed an ID card on entering the country, it would enable
them to provide proof of their identity and residence in the UK,
for instance in order to open bank accounts and access health
services.
These are some of the possible uses for identity
cards. The introduction of the national identity cards scheme
is a long-term undertaking and my officials will continue to work
closely with the Home Office through its development. It will
be important to also take into account other related developments
such as the DCA Bill to remove barriers to data sharing and the
planned ONS population register with its single unique identifier.
Rt Hon Charles Clarke MP, Secretary of State for
Education and Skills
February 2004
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