Comments for UK Liberty

Comment on Voting report by ukliberty

ukliberty — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:38:13 +0000

Ah yes, thank you.

Comment on Voting report by David

David — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:44:23 +0000

By way of comparison:

“The Supreme Court, voting 6-3, on Monday rejected a constitutional challenge to Indiana’s law requiring voters to show a government-issued photo ID before they may cast a ballot.”

Cheers,

Comment on First impulse is to spy on people by Voting report « UK Liberty

Voting report « UK Liberty — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:33:25 +0000

[...] Comments UK Liberty on First impulse is to spy on peopleukliberty on Cost of ID cardsCayce Pollard on Cost of ID cardsViolent Offender Order [...]

Comment on First impulse is to spy on people by UK Liberty

UK Liberty — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 18:31:01 +0000

[...] course! Anything can be solved by a database. Currently only heads of households have to [...]

Comment on Cost of ID cards by ukliberty

ukliberty — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:08:03 +0000

But Jacqui Smith didn’t say that benefit claimants will be asked to verify their identity against the Register - she implied it, she didn’t say it:

Would Jean Hutchinson have been able to commit her crimes if she had been asked to give a photo and fingerprint as proof of her identity when she registered each new benefit claim? The answer is no.

A simple check against the National Identity Register would have revealed the real person’s face and fingerprints.

Dave Birch was at DEMOS:

In the question time, I asked her if all claimants would have to do this. As Jacqui didn’t answer, I was able to ask Meg, and she told me that not only will benefit claimants not be asked for fingerprints and photos, they won’t be asked for ID cards either, so I don’t think the scheme will have any effect on benefit fraud: either Jacqui was briefed incorrectly on this or I must have misunderstood Meg.

And if I understand correctly it would be unlawful without further legislation to require a person to provide fingerprints, photos, or ID cards as a condition of receiving benefits.

Comment on Cost of ID cards by Cayce Pollard

Cayce Pollard — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:40:13 +0000

Hillier was badly briefed: benefit claimants cannot be asked for ID cards. But they will be asked to verify their identity against the register, as the Home Security said in her DEMOS speech. It’s important to remember that — whether you agree with ID cards or are against them — the management consultants have created cards that are security theatre, not security.

Comment on On the growth of civil orders to prevent crime and the Serious Crime Bill by Violent Offender Order debate « UK Liberty

Violent Offender Order debate « UK Liberty — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:23:06 +0000

[...] Offender Order debate April 24, 2008 Last covered here in January - my article on the growth of using civil orders to prevent crime may also of interest - they were debated in the Lords last night as part of the Criminal Justice [...]

Comment on Voo-doo by Violent Offender Order debate « UK Liberty

Violent Offender Order debate « UK Liberty — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:21:56 +0000

[...] Offender Order debate April 24, 2008 Last covered here in January - my article on the growth of using civil orders to prevent crime may also of interest - they were [...]

Comment on Cost of ID cards by ukliberty

ukliberty — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:35:09 +0000

I should make it clear when I accept things for the sake of argument. In this case I accept for the sake of argument that identity fraud relating to benefit fraud costs £20-50m a year (I have questioned the figure itself before).

So then, where is the business case (justification for change)? Where is the cost-benefit analysis? In other words, how much will it cost to save £50m?

As Guy points out, what will be the cost of the infrastructure and training? As I have said before, it’s worth noting that the cost of the NHS programme went from £2.3 bn, to £5 bn, £6.2 bn, £12.4 bn, and £20 bn - the last not for the central services themselves, Lord Warner has explained, but for enabling everyone to use them!

Of course, this wasn’t in the initial estimate… it’s like getting a plumber round, and he installs a new heating system, but there are no thermostats.

“Oh sorry,” he says, “I only quoted for the pipes and labour, the thermostats are extra.”

Comment on Cost of ID cards by ukliberty

ukliberty — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:22:00 +0000

“You do know where the estimated £50 million a year in identity-related benefit fraud comes from, don’t you?”

Yes - and there is supposed to be a new version of the ‘study‘ out soon, based on new ‘methodology’.

Update
They are still working on it!