Home Office welcomes Fujitsu-sponsored Faith Consultation report on ID cards

Key findings include major concerns surrounding:

• Access to enrolment centres, particularly for elderly members of communities
• Physical contact with biometric sensors, particularly fingerprint systems
• Hygiene issues in multiple use of equipment at enrolment and verification points
• Language and gender-related issues
• Possible limitations of identification posed by physical appearance and traditional dress of various faith traditions

Des Browne MP, Home Office minister of state for citizenship, commented, "These findings mirror and reinforce many of the issues that the Home Office recognises that it must consider to ensure that the scheme operates in a way that is not discriminatory. Although we are already addressing many of these issues, it is clear from this report that we need to communicate any proposed changes to a wider audience in order to ensure the public is clear as to what the ID cards will and won't do."

As a direct result of the consultation, the FCCC leaders have agreed to disseminate information throughout their communities to help ensure that the ID scheme is better understood by all its members and that its introduction is as successful as possible.

Commenting on the findings contained in the report, Roger Gilbert, Managing Director, Central Government Business Unit for Fujitsu Services said, "As a leading provider of IT services, Fujitsu is keen to understand the views of citizens and how the use of technology in major Government programmes, such as the introduction of identity cards, will affect them. We are delighted to be associated with the FCCC which we believe provides valuable input to the proposed ID card scheme"

Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain, said, "Faith communities constitute an important stakeholder group accessing public services in Britain . The groups have distinct issues surrounding the recording and reading of biometric data and verification in order to accommodate dress codes and appropriate conduct by officials. We are confident that the dialogue between the faith communities and the government will play a significant role in the manner by which identity cards are implemented in Britain by addressing some of the key concerns of the faith communities."