My hon Friend the Minister of State for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I am pleased to announce that my rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is today publishing the Valedictory Report of the Biometrics Commissioner, Francesca Whitelaw KC.

The Biometrics Commissioner is...

My hon Friend the Minister of State for Policing and Crime (Sarah Jones) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I am pleased to announce that my rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is today publishing the Valedictory Report of the Biometrics Commissioner, Francesca Whitelaw KC.

The Biometrics Commissioner is...

I am pleased to announce that my rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is today publishing the Valedictory Report of the Biometrics Commissioner, Francesca Whitelaw KC.

The Biometrics Commissioner is appointed under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and provides independent oversight of the retention and use of biometric material...

I am pleased to announce that my rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is today publishing the Valedictory Report of the Biometrics Commissioner, Francesca Whitelaw KC.

The Biometrics Commissioner is appointed under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and provides independent oversight of the retention and use of biometric material...

Letter dated 26/05/2023 from John Whittingdale MP to Stephanie Peacock MP regarding where the functions of the Biometrics Commissioner (BC) and Surveillance Camera Commissioner (SCC) would move to, following abolition of the roles, as discussed during the Committee stage (eighth sitting) of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill 2022-23. 2p.

Letter dated 26/05/2023 from John Whittingdale MP to Stephanie Peacock MP regarding where the functions of the Biometrics Commissioner (BC) and Surveillance Camera Commissioner (SCC) would move to, following abolition of the roles, as discussed during the Committee stage (eighth sitting) of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2)...

Clauses 100 to 104 agreed to. Schedule 13 agreed to as amended. Clause 105, discussed with new clause 17 (Transfer of functions to the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office), agreed to. Clause 106, discussed with new clause 8 (Processing of special categories of personal data: biometric data), agreed to. Clause 107 agreed to. Clause 108 agreed to as amended. Government new Clause 1 (General processing and codes of conduct agreed to). Government new clause 2 (Codes of conduct) agreed to. Government new clause 3 (Information disclosed by the Welsh Revenue Authority) agreed to. Government new clause 4 (Information disclosed by Revenue Scotland) agreed to. Government new clause 5 (Meaning of “appropriate national authority”) agreed to. Government new clause 6 (Special categories of personal data: elected representatives responding to requests) agreed to. Government new clause 7 (Pre-commencement consultation) agreed to. New clause 8 (Processing of special categories of personal data: biometric data) negatived on division (4 votes to 9). New clause 9 (Transparency in use of algorithmic tools) negatived on division (4 votes to 9). New clause 10 (Provision about representation of data subjects) negatived on division (4 votes to 9). New clause 11 (Privacy enhancing technologies) debated and withdrawn. New clause 13 (Oversight of biometric technology use by the Information Commission), discussed with new clause 14 (Requirement to register with the Information Commission), and new clause 15 (Private biometrics use prior to entry into force of the Act) debated and withdrawn. New clause 16 (Processing of data in relation to a case-file prepared by the police service for submission to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision) debated and withdrawn. Bill, as amended, to be reported (Bill 314). Written evidence reported to the House.

Clauses 100 to 104 agreed to. Schedule 13 agreed to as amended. Clause 105, discussed with new clause 17 (Transfer of functions to the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office), agreed to. Clause 106, discussed with new clause 8 (Processing of special categories of personal data: biometric data), agreed to. Clause 107...

Motion that this House has considered the nineteenth report of the Science and Technology Committee, Session 2017-19, The work of the Biometrics Commissioner and the Forensic Science Regulator, HC 1970, and the Government response, Session 2019-21, HC 1319. Agreed to on question.

Motion that this House has considered the nineteenth report of the Science and Technology Committee, Session 2017-19, The work of the Biometrics Commissioner and the Forensic Science Regulator, HC 1970, and the Government response, Session 2019-21, HC 1319. Agreed to on question.

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the Nineteenth Report of the Science and Technology Committee, Session 2017-19, The work of the Biometrics Commissioner and the Forensic Science Regulator, HC 1970, and the Government Response, Session 2019-21, HC 1319.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Huq....

I beg to move,

That this House has considered the Nineteenth Report of the Science and Technology Committee, Session 2017-19, The work of the Biometrics Commissioner and the Forensic Science Regulator, HC 1970, and the Government Response, Session 2019-21, HC 1319.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Huq....

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. It is also a pleasure to serve on the Science and Technology Committee under the chairship of the right hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark). I associate myself with his questions and the general points that he made,...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. It is also a pleasure to serve on the Science and Technology Committee under the chairship of the right hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark). I associate myself with his questions and the general points that he made,...

It is good to see you back in the Chair, Dr Huq. As you have said, I follow two of my fellow Committee members. I am also speaking from the Front Bench for the SNP. I should state at the start that I prefer to see myself here as a...

It is good to see you back in the Chair, Dr Huq. As you have said, I follow two of my fellow Committee members. I am also speaking from the Front Bench for the SNP. I should state at the start that I prefer to see myself here as a...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. I congratulate the right hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) on securing the debate, and on his elegant critique of Government progress. He asked a comprehensive list of questions about missed deadlines and the like, which I look...

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dr Huq. I congratulate the right hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) on securing the debate, and on his elegant critique of Government progress. He asked a comprehensive list of questions about missed deadlines and the like, which I look...

It is a great pleasure to appear before you, Dr Huq. I am grateful to you, and I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) and the hon. Member for Blackley and Broughton (Graham Stringer) for securing this debate and giving up the chance to...

It is a great pleasure to appear before you, Dr Huq. I am grateful to you, and I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) and the hon. Member for Blackley and Broughton (Graham Stringer) for securing this debate and giving up the chance to...

I thank the Minister for his comments. The issue is not the use of these images—I think we all understand the importance of using the images— but their long-term storage. That is where people start having some difficulties.

I thank the Minister for his comments. The issue is not the use of these images—I think we all understand the importance of using the images— but their long-term storage. That is where people start having some difficulties.

I will come on to that in a moment. I just want to address the question of a legal framework. There is already a comprehensive legal framework around the operation of this technology. As Members will know, it has been tested through the courts. The police have broad common-law powers...

I will come on to that in a moment. I just want to address the question of a legal framework. There is already a comprehensive legal framework around the operation of this technology. As Members will know, it has been tested through the courts. The police have broad common-law powers...

I do not disagree with anything the Minister is saying, but would it not be easier if, when people are taken into the custody suite after an arrest and have their photograph taken, there were a simple sign next to the camera saying, “If you are found not guilty, or...

I do not disagree with anything the Minister is saying, but would it not be easier if, when people are taken into the custody suite after an arrest and have their photograph taken, there were a simple sign next to the camera saying, “If you are found not guilty, or...

I certainly think it would be a good idea to provide people with that information at as early an opportunity as we can. Whether they would read a notice on the wall at that moment of particular stress is something that I would have to think about, but it should...

I certainly think it would be a good idea to provide people with that information at as early an opportunity as we can. Whether they would read a notice on the wall at that moment of particular stress is something that I would have to think about, but it should...

Thank you, Dr Huq, for chairing this important debate. I hope that the contemplation by Members of your prospective arrest has not given you too much cause for alarm. God forbid that that should happen, but at least you know your rights when it comes to custody images as a...

Thank you, Dr Huq, for chairing this important debate. I hope that the contemplation by Members of your prospective arrest has not given you too much cause for alarm. God forbid that that should happen, but at least you know your rights when it comes to custody images as a...

My Noble Friend the Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Williams of Trafford) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I am pleased to announce that my Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary is today publishing the Annual Report of the Biometrics Commissioner, together with the Government’s response.

The Biometrics...

My Noble Friend the Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Williams of Trafford) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I am pleased to announce that my Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary is today publishing the Annual Report of the Biometrics Commissioner, together with the Government’s response.

The Biometrics...

I am pleased to announce that my Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary is today publishing the Annual Report of the Biometrics Commissioner, together with the Government’s response.

The Biometrics Commissioner is an independent office holder, who is appointed by the Home Secretary under section 21 of the Protection of...

I am pleased to announce that my Rt Hon Friend the Home Secretary is today publishing the Annual Report of the Biometrics Commissioner, together with the Government’s response.

The Biometrics Commissioner is an independent office holder, who is appointed by the Home Secretary under section 21 of the Protection of...

Letter dated 26/11/2021 from Baroness Williams of Trafford to Fraser Sampson, Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometrics Material, regarding response to the Biometrics Commissioner's annual report. 3p.

Letter dated 26/11/2021 from Baroness Williams of Trafford to Fraser Sampson, Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometrics Material, regarding response to the Biometrics Commissioner's annual report. 3p.