APPENDIX 19
Letter from Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State for Nationality, Citizenship and Immigration,
Home Office to the Chairman
RESPONSES TO
QUESTIONS FROM
THE SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY
SELECT COMMITTEE
Thank you for your letter of 11 July. I am glad
that you found the briefing you received last Monday useful.
You raised a number of questions relating to
the reports of an "early variant" card asking what this
was, how it might differ from the existing proposals, what the
cost implications might be, and what the argument was that this
would be an appropriate first step.
The term "early variant" is misleading
in implying that there are firm plans for a different type of
card to be issued earlier than others. The plans for ID cards
have always been incremental with no "big bang" implementation
and the Identity and Passport Service is considering the most
appropriate first incremental steps to introduce ID Cards.
There is an ongoing programme of work to ensure
a smooth implementation. The Identity and Passport Service (IPS)
has already started the introduction of facial image biometric
passports and will move next year to interviewing all first time
passport applicants. These are essential building blocks in the
incremental programme leading to the full implementation of identity
cards.
You also asked about the review of Home Office
activities. Following the Home Secretary's written statement on
23 May (Official Report, column WS 81), a small team was
established with the objective of producing a reform plan for
the Home Office by the summer recess, in addition to the complimentary
work underway on reviewing the Immigration and Nationality Directorate
and rebalancing the Criminal Justice System. This review is about
reforming the Home Office so that it is able to deliver its core
objectives of public protection in an ever-changing world, rather
that an analysis of specific policy issues such as the ID cards
programme. In this statement, the Home Secretary signalled his
intention to report back to Parliament on progress and proposals
for change before the summer recess.
The timetabling of the ID cards programme is
being reviewed by IPS alongside the plan for reforming the Home
Office. The Home Office remains committed to delivering the ID
cards programme as soon as possible, starting with biometric residence
permits for foreign nationals in 2008.
Finally, on another matter, you asked by email
whether it would be acceptable for you to include a reference
in your report to the briefing held on the 10 July. Your request
asked whether the report could cite the two specific risks covered
but without details of the ratings of these risks or of how they
are being dealt with. In keeping with my letter of 22 June in
which I requested that the briefing be considered confidential,
I am content that your report should make a reference to the briefing,
but not for the specific risks covered to be referred to. I look
forward to seeing your report when it is published.
Joan Ryan
July 2006
| 
