UK minister ducks cost questions on nationwide digital ID scheme

A UK tech minister has declined to put a figure on the cost of the government's digital ID plans as MPs question the contributions expected from central departments.

Speaking to a House of Commons select committee this week, minister for digital government and data Ian Murray defended the government's decision not to publish budgeted costs of its plans to build digital IDs for every citizen.

In September, the government announced plans to issue all legal residents a digital identity by August 2029, which in the first instance is set to be used to prove eligibility to work. Prime minister Keir Starmer said digital IDs were "an enormous opportunity for the UK." As well as making it tougher to work illegally, they would also "offer ordinary citizens countless benefits, like being able to prove your identity to access key services swiftly," he said.

The plan is to use smartphones ...