Written question asked by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Wednesday, 28 April 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 May 2004. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Monday, 17 May 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidelines he will issue on police use of finger-print information held on the National Identity Register proposed in the draft Identity Card Bill.

Answer: Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines he will issue on police use of finger-print information held on the National Identity Register proposed in the draft Identity Card Bill. [170257] Mr. Browne: Disclosure of information from the National Identity Register without the individual's consent may be made to the police only in the specified circumstances set out in Clause 20(3) of the draft Bill. This is subject to certain rules, including that information will only be disclosed if the Secretary of State is satisfied that it was not reasonably practicable for the police to have obtained the information by another means. For example, if fingerprint information is recorded on the register, the police would first have to search their own fingerprint records before resorting to the register. I will consider the need for further guidance on this subject nearer to the time of the introduction of the identity cards scheme.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 170257; 421 c774-5W
Session: 2003-04
Subjects: Disclosure of information Fingerprints Identity cards Police Registration
Legislation: Draft Identity Cards Bill
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk