Home Affairs Committee talks to new ID Commissioner
24 November 2009 (updated on 22 April 2010)
The Home Affairs Committee holds a one-off session with new Identity Commissioner, Sir Joseph Pilling, and then starts a short inquiry about the effects on the police of potential funding cuts with a number of senior officers and the police minister. Watch live from 10.30 am
- Video and Audio: New identity card card commissioner; Potential police funding cuts
- Home Affairs Committee
The witnesses are:
10.30am Sir Joseph Pilling, Identity Commissioner
Chairman of the Committee, Keth Vaz MP, said:
"We welcome the opportunity to take evidence from the first Identity Commissioner so early into his new role, on how he intends to oversee the implementation of the National Identity Service and ensure safeguards are in place to protect data on the National Identity Register and guard against function creep in the use of identity cards."
Police service strength
11.00am
- Deputy Commissioner Tim Godwin, Metropolitan Police Commissioner
- Chief Constable Gillian Parker, Bedfordshire Police
11.30am
- Simon Humberstone, Executive, IBM Global Business Services and Director, Southwest One Board
- Chief Constable Colin Port, Avon and Somerset Police
12 midday
- The Rt Hon David Hanson MP, Minister of State Home Office
The Chairman commented that:
"In light of media reports suggesting potential cuts of up to 20 per cent in police funding, we wrote to all police forces and authorities in England and Wales asking about the impact on officer numbers and their plans for managing a tighter funding settlement. The Committee has heard conflicting accounts of these matters and is seeking to clarify the situation through this short inquiry.
"In this session, we will explore issues arising in more detail with chief officers, hear how one force is working with the private sector to maximise resources, and put any outstanding concerns to the Policing Minister."