Minister dodges cost questions while promising smartphone-free access and 'robust' verification

The UK government has revealed some thinking about digital identity in response to written questions from MPs, while continuing to say next to nothing about the scheme's cost.

On January 12, Conservative MP Sir David Davis, who as shadow home secretary from 2003 to 2008 led opposition to the last Labour government's identity card scheme, asked 17 ministers "how much they plan to reduce their department's budget to help fund the digital ID scheme."

Most of the ministers have provided exactly the same answer saying that costs would be met "within the existing spending review settlements," adding: "No final decisions will be made until after the consultation." The government plans to launch a consultation on the scheme in February.

Home Office minister Mike Tapp struck a relatively distinctive note in saying that the Cabinet Office was working with other departments on policy and design decisions over digital ...