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Sir keir starmer stated that the public would never need a digital ID to access the hospital, but acknowledged that it would cost a lot new plan Still not able to find out.
Prime Minister Repeated this on Thursday Only digital ID will be mandatory When it comes to the right to work.
The scheme was first announced last monthAnd it has been highlighted as a way to prove a person has the right to work in the UK as part of the government’s effort to cut illegal migration.
Asked whether digital IDs would be required to access the hospital, Sir Keir told the BBC on Thursday: “Absolutely not”.
“It wouldn’t be mandatory other than the right to work and a digital ID,” he said. “You would never need an ID to go to a hospital or anything like that.”
However, he acknowledged that officials were not clear what the total cost of the plan would be.
Asked what the final bill could be and whether it could be run by a big tech firm, the PM said: “There is no additional cost at the moment because we are going through a consultancy exercise, so it is all accounted for.
“And we won’t know the full cost until we get to the end of that exercise.”
He claimed evidence from elsewhere showed the scheme would save money by preventing fraud.
Prime Minister Speaking during a visit to a bank, and compared digital ID technology to those the public may already use.
“The idea of having an ID on your phone isn’t too far off from having a bank account on your phone or any other app that people have on their phones,” he said.
He also said that it will not happen that the technology will be used for surveillance.
Sir Keir announced last month that the government would introduce a new ID system by 2029 that would be mandatory for people working in the UK.
He told a summit in London: “If we get this digital ID system working and the public are on board with us, it will be the basis of the modern state and will allow quite a lot of really exciting public service reform in the future.”
The PM also said the technology would help convince voters that the immigration system is “fair”, adding: “Decent, practical, fair-minded people, they want us to deal with the issues they see around them.”
The government has previously said a digital ID card would be placed on people’s phones, similar to the NHS app or contactless payment systems.
It will be issued free of charge to anyone who has the right to live or work in the UK, whether they are British natives or foreign nationals.
This will include information such as the person’s name, date of birth and a photo.
How the scheme will work for people who do not use smartphones will be addressed as part of the consultation process.