By cutting off the ‘pull factor’ of the opportunity to work off the books in the UK, the Digital ID scheme will send a clear message to those who want to work illegally in this country, along with the people smugglers and criminal gangs who profit from illegal immigration.

Why is this being introduced?
Digital ID will make it easier for people without passports and driving licences to access crucial government services, which is becoming an increasing issue.
It will also be used a means of proving the Right to Work in this country.

When is it happening?
First, the government will be holding a consultation to ensure that everyone’s voices are listened to. Then, it will be introduced through legislation. Over time, it will become the standard for Right-to-Work checks.

Alongside state-of-the-art encryption and user authentication, the only information shared will be what is strictly necessary for the situation. For example, you will be able to prove you’re over 18 without revealing your full date of birth.

It will be launched alongside an outreach programme to provide face-to-face support.

How will this impact my privacy?
The Digital ID system will improve your privacy and security, giving you more control over your personal data.

Will I need a smartphone to make use of it?
You won’t need a smartphone to access the benefits of this ID system, and the government will hold a consultation to ensure usability for those less experienced with digital technology, such as homeless and elderly people.

Will I have to carry it with me?
This ID will not be a physical card. You will never be forced to carry your ID or produce it on demand. There will be no sanctions for not having a Digital ID.

Will we have to pay for it?
This ID will be free for everyone, making access easier for most people, especially those without passports and driving licences.

Will it cost the government money?
In India, a similar system has saved $10 billion in US dollars through reducing fraud.

It will be required to prove Right to Work and so address a big pull factor behind illegal immigration.

I’ve already been contacted by constituents with questions and concerns, so I’d like to address some of these publicly:

This ID will not be a physical card. It will be available on phones, just like the way you may use the NHS App or contactless online payments already. It will streamline access to services and make things a lot easier for people without passports or driving licences.

This is the kind of long term, joined up thinking I'm very pleased to see our Labour Government engaging in to tackle the housing crisis.

Alongside the work of the Bank, this will deliver grant funding to projects which would otherwise be unviable. It will bring forward large, complex and transformative schemes, including those which require remediation of brownfield sites.

As part of this announcement, an additional £5bn of capital grant funding will be available for housing, deployed across the country by Homes England and Mayors to support housing delivery.

£2.5 billion of low-interest loans will be available for social housing providers to increase their capacity to invest in new developments.

This finance, over its lifetime, will support delivery of over 500,000 new homes, hundreds of thousands of job opportunities in the construction sector, and generate an additional £53bn of additional private investment.