Information Note
Citizen Information Project: feasibility study
A joint project team, led by the Office for National Statistics with the close involvement of HM Treasury, is examining the feasibility of developing a high-quality common population register. This would hold core data (such as name, address and date of birth) and a unique identifier on UK residents that could be used by public sector organisations to ensure that they have the right records about the right people at the right time. Any proposals that emerge from the study will be fully consistent with legislation covering data protection and privacy.
The feasibility study was first announced in the green paper on entitlement cards and identity fraud (Cm 5557 available online) published in July 2002. Earlier work, led by Patrick Carter of the Public Services Productivity Panel, indicated that a population register could be used to generate significant customer service and efficiency benefits across the public services by making data more accurate and secure.
Background
The Public Services Productivity Panel is a small group of senior business people and public sector managers that has been established to identify ways to help improve the productivity of the public sector. The Panel is chaired by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
There are many large public sector databases on the British population, including those for national insurance and income tax purposes; the NHS; driver and vehicle owner registers; on passport holders, council taxpayers and voters. Each one attempts to capture similar core information (such as name, address, date of birth) on people. Data capture and maintenance is currently carried out separately, causing considerable effort and inconvenience to a citizen moving home, for example, and unnecessary duplication of effort within the public services.
A system of once-only data capture would enable government departments and agencies to have easier access to more accurate core information on citizens that they deal with. It should also help when citizens contact public services with a query, in terms of locating their records more easily and giving the citizen better service.
Len Cook, as Registrar General for England & Wales, agreed that ONS would take the lead on a feasibility study. Preliminary findings have been presented to Ministers. Further detailed investigative work is being undertaken.
The work is being carefully co-ordinated with other initiatives, including the work on entitlement cards (led by the Home Office) and on privacy and data sharing (led by the Lord Chancellor's Department).
The project team is consulting widely. The project leader is:
Paul Allin
Tel: +44 (0)20 7533 6151
Email: Paul.Allin@ons.gov.uk