The government has appointed the UK's first identity
commissioner in a move to ensure the information held on the
controversialNational Identity Registeris accurate and
secure.
Joseph Pilling is to take up the role in October and will also
monitor how the planned associated ID cards are put to use by
public and private organisations.
Home secretary Alan Johnson said the public has the right to
expect the National Identity Service to be run to the highest
standards.
"The identity commissioner will champion their interests,
providing a strong and independent voice, holding the Identity and
Passport Service to account and ensuring information collected
under the service is kept securely," he said.
The security of the planned ID cards has been challenged, but
the government has
rejected claims that the cards are easily
hacked and cloned.
Pillion said he plans to be an independent voice and work
towards safeguarding the public's privacy and identity rights.
The identity commissioner will report to the home secretary at
least once a year on the National Identity Service and the report
will be put before parliament.
Pilling was permanent secretary to the Northern Ireland Office
from 1997 to 2005. Since then, he has been involved in reviews of
senior appointments in the Church of England, the Civil Aviation
Authority, the 30-year rule on the release of government
information and the governance of London University.