Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones has confirmed that the government's digital ID system will be developed internally and not outsourced to private companies. The announcement comes amid concerns over the involvement of American tech firm Palantir in key state services, including a data platform for the NHS and a £421 million contract with the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Jones demonstrated a prototype of the 'Government by app' at a Downing Street press conference, stating that the responsibility for the design, build and running of the system will remain within government, supported by the Government Digital Service. He emphasised that data will be stored in line with standard government practice and that no new central database will be created; information will remain with existing departments such as the DWP, DVLA, and HMRC.
The digital ID scheme, originally intended to be mandatory for right-to-work checks, has been made voluntary after a drop in public support. Mr Jones said the app will become the front door to public services and will reduce taxpayer costs by automating inefficient processes, such as the DVLA's 45,000 daily letters and HMRC's 100,000 phone calls per day. Health data from the NHS app will remain separate.
The government has launched an eight-week public consultation, followed by a 'people's panel' of 100 to 120 Britons, to address scepticism within Labour and the wider public. A bill later this year will require parliamentary approval for each new service added to the app. The minister suggested that efficiencies could lead to future tax cuts, but could not provide the cost of the rollout.
