A UK minister said the government’s digital ID system will
not be a “silver bullet” to stop illegal migration, amid debate over its
national rollout.
The plan, which will be implemented before the conclusion of the current Parliament, is part of a larger effort to crack down on those who are working unlawfully in the UK, according to Ian Murray.
Claims that it would be referred to as a "BritCard" were refuted by the minister of digital government as "it is not a BritCard."
Additionally, Mr. Murray stated that it was neither "mandatory" nor a card, but he later clarified that it would be "for some purposes" mandatory.
He acknowledged that the government needed to "listen and address people's concerns about safety, security, and privacy" as well as "make the case" for the plan.
Asked whether it was needed to tackle illegal migration, Mr Murray told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme:
"We've been very clear this is not a silver bullet but it does have two major positives in terms of having a mandatory right to work check.
It means it's easier for businesses.
It creates that level playing field and fairness for businesses that always do the right thing but are undercut by those businesses that don't."
People "disappearing into the shadow economy" would be lessened, he claimed.
Scotland's First Minister accused the minister of trying "to force every Scot to declare themselves British" with the card, but the minister, who was fired as Scottish secretary last month and was given other ministerial responsibilities, denied the allegations.
Using the term "BritCard" or any other descriptor of the digital ID system, John Swinney declared that he would be against it.
Mr Murray accused the SNP leader of opposing the policy for "the sake of objection".
"This is actually SNP policy that was signed off with when the First Minister was deputy first minister in 2021,"
he said.
"They said they wanted to digitise government, to modernise government, in order for people to be able to access government services easier.
That's exactly what this policy is and I think it's just objection for the First Minister for the sake of objection."
Hitting back at claims it would be called a "BritCard", Mr Murray said:
"It's not a BritCard.
That was something that was made up before the announcement was made from a think tank from many years ago.
It is not a BritCard, it will never be called a BritCard and it never has intended to be called a BritCard."
Mr Murray said there was a "host of ways nationality could be defined" in digital ID as he pointed to Northern Ireland, where he said people could declare themselves as Irish, British or both.
"So that will have to be taken into account,"
he said.
"I'm sure those kinds of discussions with the Welsh and Scottish governments will be exactly the same."
Ivan McKee, Scotland's public finance minister, said:
"The Scottish Government is opposed to the UK Government's proposals for mandatory ID cards.
Ministers have been clear that as well as concerns around privacy, these UK Government proposals would not be a good use of public money at a time when people are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
ScotAccount is not comparable with what the UK Government is proposing – its use is not mandatory and it does not provide a centralised searchable database of people's personal information."
How will employers verify digital IDs in practice?
Employees will present their digital ID accessed from a
government-sponsored app, which contains data that has been verified, including
name, date of birth, and right to work status.
Employers will scan or access the digital ID credentials through authorized digital ID verification providers, and confirm verification with cryptographic authentication and real-time checks. The system may include biometric verification, like facial recognition, to confirm that the person presenting the ID is the same as the ID in their record.
The background screening and criminal record check may also be included in the verification platform as part of the identity proofing service, further streamlining the verify process. The digital verification acts as a replacement to the paper checks, as well as the National Insurance number, and minimizes opportunities for fraud, as well as cut non typing time or volume in the process.