John McDonnell (Hayes and Harlington) (Lab): The Information Commissioner has confirmed that some of the information used by the Consulting Association to blacklist trade unionists could only have come from the police or the Security Service. When 3,000 people, mostly celebrities, had their telephones hacked, the Government set up an inquiry under Leveson. When 3,200 trade unionists have been blacklisted, and many have lost their livelihoods, the Home Secretary simply suggests that they go to the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Why is there one route to justice for celebrities, and another for working people?

The Prime Minister: There is one law that has to cover everybody in this land, and if there is any accusation of wrongdoing, that is something that the police, who are completely independent of the Government, can investigate. That is what should happen. I say that on the hon. Gentleman’s behalf, but he could do something on everyone else’s behalf. He runs the Right to Work campaign, which is stopping young people getting work experience places. If he cares about opportunities for young people, he will give up that left-wing organisation.

The Universal Credit system will contain an unprecedented amount of information on all aspects of our lives, much of which will be controlled by private companies. In a chilling development it appears that the database will use ‘voice biometrics’ as part of it’s security protocols.

The new system, which is due to be launched in 2013, will dwarf the plans for a National Identity Register which was dropped by Labour after storms of protest. With the advent of smart phone and hand held readers this new system could easily become an effective, electronic National Identity Card.

Universal Credit is the Government’s policy to replace all benefits and tax credits with one unified benefit. The database set up to manage it will be built into the tax system and rely on the ‘real time reporting’ system for tax payments which is currently in development. It is therefore likely that everyone,with or without a job, will find themselves on the database.

Under Real Time Reporting, the Government will require self-employed tax-payers and PAYE employers to submit monthly figures on earnings. The Government will know where you are on a month to month basis, unlike the current system which only relies on annual returns. This will create a huge amount of additonal work and beaurocracy for self employed people and small firms alike. Like many aspects of the plans, this is something the Government hasn’t been particularly forthcoming about.

Universal Credit is set to be ‘digital by default’ meaning people will only be able to input information online. People without online access at home will be required to use insecure internet cafes and, if they can still find one, libraries, should they need to report in personal information changes to the Government.

It is the voice recognition system however which will be of most concern to civil liberties campaigners. Known as ‘voice biometrics’ this relies on the fact that everyone has a unique ‘voice print’ which can be used to identify them. Whilst it has never been tested on such a huge scale, the DWP are trialling voice recognition technology right now in the hope of building it into the new system. This has the potential to become an ID Card by default. Whilst coppers will not be able to demand to see your papers they will only need a sample of your voice to access your extensive government file. You have the right to remain silent.

By far the most chilling aspect of the plans however will be the ability of spooks everywhere to track and access your phone calls. The US Echelon satellite famously hoovers up all digital information flying through the air which includes telephone conversations. If they have access to your voice print, they will be able to immediately indentify and record any telephone call you make from any phone in the world.

If big brother UK isn’t listening to you then the CIA may well be. Not to be outdone however are this countries leading eaves-droppers GCHQ. With well founded fears of fraud and hacking being voiced, it is GCHQ who are being brought in to try and prevent this.

Iain Duncan Smith said recently: “We are talking to everybody from the private sector right the way through to GCHQ about how and what is the best point at which you protect that information.”

So private companies and spooks alike are set to have access to your Government file.

Can anybody provide me with details of the workfare scheme for old adults?
My advisor has hinted that it may be coming my way.

Thanks

COMPANIES and charities that give placements to the unemployed under the UK Government's controversial unpaid work schemes have been granted anonymity.

Protest groups targeting Mandatory Work Activity and other programmes. are being blamed for a decision to keep secret the names of a dwindling band of companies still willing to provide work placements under the flagship employability schemes.

Since the beginning of the year, The Herald has been asking for the names of the companies providing placements in Scotland under the controversial schemes, branded as "forced labour" by protest groups, which require those on benefits to take up voluntary work, unpaid placements or lose their support.

The request was initially turned down on the basis of commercial confidentiality. The Herald challenged the decision on the grounds that similar lists had already been published for the south-east and north-west regions of England, and the decision was therefore hard to justify.

Yesterday, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed its initial decision. While admitting its stance appeared inconsistent, the Government said high-profile demonstrations against some of the companies involved had led it to change its position.

In a letter, the department said: "The DWP acknowledges there is a public interest in organisations involved in providing work placements for the work programme; we have in fact released this information following previous FoI [Freedom of Information] requests.