"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 identity: "Whilst this activity is underway, it is not currently possible to finalise cost estimations and the impact these will have on the Home Office's budget.""
"In December, the government rejected a £1.8 billion estimate of the scheme's cost made by the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) as part of its analysis of November's Budget speech. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's permanent secretary, Emran Mian, told a Commons select committee that the cost would depend on the outcome of the consultation. This month has seen digital identity minister Josh Simons providing more substantive answers to MPs, including who will build and run the scheme."
MPs asked ministers how departmental budgets would be reduced to fund a UK digital identity scheme. Most ministers replied that costs would be met within existing spending review settlements and that no final decisions would be made until after a planned consultation. Home Office minister Mike Tapp said cross-department work on policy and design prevented finalising cost estimates or budgetary impact. The government rejected an independent Office for Budget Responsibility £1.8bn cost estimate. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said costs depend on consultation outcomes. Digital identity minister Josh Simons said the new ID is expected to be designed, built and run by in‑house government teams.
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