Darren Jones says £1.8bn project likely to cover only vehicle tax payments and right-to-work checks initially
Britain’s £1.8bn digital ID scheme will only be available for a handful of uses by the next election, including paying vehicle tax and right-to-work checks, the minister in charge of the project has said.
Darren Jones, the prime minister’s chief secretary, said on Tuesday he eventually wanted the app to be used for everything from claiming benefits to proving the right to vote, but that most of this would not happen until the next parliament.
Launching the government’s consultation on the project, Jones admitted its initial use would be relatively limited despite costing as much annually as the Cabinet Office’s entire budget last year.
He said: “There will be some simple things that will come forward by the end of the parliament: maybe tax disc payments; some administrative tasks; the right-to-work check will be available if you want to use it from 2029.
