The Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has today published its Second report and welcomes the Identity Documents Bill. The Committee says the Bill will significantly enhance human rights by addressing concerns that ID cards and the National Identity Register would interfere with the rights to privacy and non-discrimination.
- Report: Legislative Scrutiny: Identity Documents Bill
- Bills before Parliament 2010-11: Identity Documents Bill
- Joint Committee on Human Rights
However, the Committee raises several human rights concerns. Its recommendations include:
- the requirement to destroy promptly all information on the National Identity Register (NIR) should be extended to cover all information collected in relation to the Register, without delay
- a more detailed justification of the proposed offences relating to false identity documents. The conduct covered by these offences is already criminal under existing laws, so it is not clear why they are needed
- more details about the ‘relevant information’ which a range of public and private bodies can be compelled to provide in relation to the issuing of a passport – and about the safeguards which will apply
- more information about the regime for non EEA nationals’ residence permits.