James Plaskitt MP (Labour) former MP for Warwick & Leamington.

Electronic Voting

Leamington Observer reported that James Plaskitt doubted whether the equipment used in May 2007 should have been trialled in the first place.Voters won't pay for election chaos

"The technology clearly wasn't up to the job."

"How did it get to the stage where the election went ahead without everyone satisfied it was up to it? That's what concerns me."

"This election is too important to subject to a dodgy computer programme."

"It's not exactly a technological triumph."

Identity cards

Mr Plaskitt said ID cards vote welcomed 14 February 2006

"I am in favour of ID cards as, I believe, are my constituents. ID cards will be of huge benefit to everyone, both in terms of security and convenience."

"ID cards will build on and complement the introduction of biometric passports, which are due to be introduced shortly. ID cards will help government to deliver better services to the public in a more secure way."

Mr Plaskitt responded to a call by his local council to halt the ID Card scheme, MP responds to council motion on ID cards 24 January 2006

"I believe that the overwhelming majority of my constituents understand that ID cards will not only be of huge benefit to them, both in terms of security and convenience, but also to the nation as a whole."

"We can not escape the fact that biometric technology is being introduced around the world. ID cards will build on and complement the introduction of biometric passports, which are due to be introduced shortly."

"Given the existence of identity theft and associated crimes, the government has an obligation to protect its citizens in such a way that is entirely compatible with our freedoms. Not only will ID cards provide a robust and secure way to establish an individual's identity."

"Currently a variety of information about us is stored on a range of databases. The new National Identity Register will hold information in a way which is far more secure than present arrangements."

"The introduction of ID cards will affect the relationship between the state and the individual, but to the advantage of the individual."

Biometrics

Written answer Benefit Fraud 30 January 2007

The Department for Work and Pensions recognises that the introduction of identity verification services, to be provided by the Identity and Passport Service as part of the National Identity Card scheme, will have a significant impact on the ability of fraudsters to make claims for social security benefits using more than one identity.

Work is still ongoing to establish how the Department will make use of the identity verification services and of the impact the National Identity scheme will have on other forms of benefit fraud. This work will take account of the use of biometric data.

Freedom of Information

James Plaskitt voted to give a third reading for a bill that would have exempt peers and MPs from FOI requests.

News

2007-05-18 - BBC - In full: MPs who backed FOI bid: Summary: Here is the full list of MPs who voted to give the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill a third reading - moving it a step closer to becoming law. The Bill would exempt peers and MPs from FOI requests.

2007-05-08 - Leamington Observer - Voters won't pay for election chaos: Author: Ed Holmes; Summary: The chaotic and hugely flawed local elections which took six days to complete, will not be paid for by the local taxpayer. ... But there is anger among councillors running in the election as well as Warwick and Leamington MP James Plaskitt, who doubted whether the equipment should have been trialled in the first place. He said: "The technology clearly wasn't up to the job." "How did it get to the stage where the election went ahead without everyone satisfied it was up to it? That's what concerns me." "This election is too important to subject to a dodgy computer programme." "It's not exactly a technological triumph."

2002-01-10 - The Guardian - MP's war games net £35m: Author: Matthew Tempest; Summary: An obscure former Oxford don and Labour backbencher has been revealed to be the star of the world's best-selling army computer game. In a bizarre case of body doubling, James Plaskitt, the MP for Warwick and Leamington, has admitted to being the model for the platoon commander in Operation Flashpoint - a virtual reality video game which has sold more than 1m copies since the summer.

Links

James Plaskitt MP website
James Plaskitt MP TheyWorkForyou.com
James Plaskitt MP Wikipedia