Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Monday, 7 June 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 June 2004. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Thursday, 24 June 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the UK Passport Service pilot project was postponed; whether an independent assessment of the project's results will be carried out; and what criteria will be used when assessing the project's results.

Answer: Mrs. Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the UK Passport Service pilot project was postponed; whether an independent assessment of the project's results will be carried out; and what criteria will be used when assessing the project's results. [177926] Mr. Browne: The start of the biometric enrolment trial was delayed by two months; it went live in April 2004. The delay was caused by the need to correct initial problems and then retest the equipment. The trial is now fully rolled out and functioning at its four fixed sites and is expected to run for around six months when United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) will have enrolled 10,000 people. A mobile enrolment unit will also be deployed from the end of June. UKPS has retained the services of an expert in the field of biometrics from the National Physical Laboratory as its independent assessor of the progress and outcomes of the trial. The trial is testing the practical aspects of recording of biometrics and public reactions to the enrolment process. The results will be used to inform future designs of UKPS systems and processes

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 177926; 422 c1524W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Biometrics Pilot schemes Passports Technology United Kingdom Passport Service
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk