The HMRC data-loss debacle has led to speculation over the future of the government’s £5.6bn national biometric identity card programme.

Tory leader David Cameron was quick to draw a parallel.

“People will find it weird that the prime minister doesn’t want to stop and think about the dangers of a national identity register,” he said in the Commons.

But the government insists that the plan remains unchanged and that the national identity register (NIR) at its heart will improve security.

“By linking fingerprints to a database with strict rules outlining its use, the scheme will allow identity to be proved more securely, conveniently and efficiently,” says the Home Office.

The technical architecture is also designed to ensure security. Not only will the NIR not hold tax, benefit or financial records, but biometric data will be kept on a separate system.

“There will be multiple access controls to perform key functions, and the number of people who could see the whole of a person’s identity or make changes to it will be limited,” said the Home Office.

“Any request for information will have to pass through a number of systems and filters to make sure that only authenticated and authorised requests get through.”
The government still faces an uphill PR battle, according to Eric Woods, government practice director at analyst Ovum.

“The events at HMRC significantly raise the debate in terms of convincing the public that the benefits outweigh the risks,” he said.