Greens Back Protest Against Government-sponsored 'Electronic Stranger Danger'
Tue., August 21, 2007. 15:54.
Harvie calls on Scottish Government to review law that paves way for national identity database
Patrick No To ID
Green MSP Patrick Harvie today joined campaigners outside the Scottish Parliament (1) against the government misuse of the 'Scottish Entitlement Card' - widely suspected to be the precursor to a full-blown national ID card and Identity Database system.
Harvie is also backing demands that a law which could provide extensive access to personal details of Scottish citizens be reviewed. Section 57 of the Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act gives the General Register Office the power to record and share personal information about anyone. It gives new powers to create a Scottish Identity Register which will be behind the government's proposed ID card scheme. (2)
At the time the legislation was agreed the seemingly innocuous Section 57 was passed without any connection being made with the UK government support for a National ID Register and ID card scheme. The threat posed to civil liberties has now been revealed. Reports of a Whitehall briefing points to ongoing UK-wide plans involving Scotland: "Given that progress with this is well advanced ... we recommend that the development and lessons learned should be monitored, the situation held in review and that contacts between the ID card team and the devolved administration be strengthened." (3)
Patrick Harvie MSP said, "Many people welcome the Entitlement Card to help them access public services, but it was never parliament's intention to set up the first phase of a National Identity Register. Such a database is not only expensive, bureaucratic and unnecessary; it also flies in the face of the principled position Parliament took when it agreed the Green motion against ID Cards. It will leave the law-abiding citizen out of pocket and subject to draconian invasion of privacy and erosion of basic rights.
"The majority of MSPs in the last parliament backed our motion to reject the National ID scheme and public support for it has fallen dramatically - I hope the SNP Government won't make the mistake of creating a similar system in Scotland. I'm calling for a clear statement that it does not support this infringement of privacy, that it will look again at the terms of section 57, and that the dangerous drift toward a surveillance society will not be repeated in Scotland."
For more information contact 0790 99 33 074
Notes to editors
1. The campaign group No2ID demonstrated outside the parliament today (11.30 - 12.30) against the introduction of the 'Scottish Entitlement Card' and against Section 57 of the Local Electoral Administration and Registration Services (Scotland) Act. For more information go to
http://www.no2id-scotland.net/
2. The detail of Section 57: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2006/60014--c.htm#57
3. Article on the issue: http://www.jwelford.demon.co.uk/snec/article.pdf
4. Greens argue that ID cards will:
* Be costly and impractical: There is scepticism about the cost and operability of the scheme (up to £19 billion according to the LSE), as well as the government's ability to manage the technology. Large government IT projects are renowned for cost over-runs and technical hitches. This will be the most ambitious such project in history.
* Lead to loss of privacy: There will be a massive database containing an unprecedented amount of personal information on people.
* Worsen harassment of minority groups: They'll provide another pretext for stop-and-search, often directed at ethnic minorities.
* Have little impact on counter-terrorism: Terrorist networks would soon be able to produce counterfeit cards or papers enabling people to get legitimate cards. While former Home Secretary, David Blunkett admitted that it would be possible to register for a card using a false identity, but was satisfied that a person would then "be stuck with it for life".
* Have little effect on illegal working: Employers who are already willing to break the law won't be put off by identity cards.
* Be subject to 'function creep': The functions of the card will grow over time as it stores more personal information. More agencies will demand to see it, effectively making it necessary for people to carry one.
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.