House of Commons written answers, 6th May 1999
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Parliamentary questions
Written answers : Department for International Development
6th May, 1999
A question asked by Dr Jenny Tonge MP (Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park), about the use of birth certificates by the Department for International Development. The answer confirms that yet another government department may require the production of birth certificates as proof of identity. The government has told the European Court of Human Rights that use of the birth certificate as an identity document is discouraged (see, for example, the ECHR judgment in the cases of Sheffield & Horsham v UK, paragraph 31).
Dr Tonge is her party’s spokesperson on international development.
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From House of Commons
Hansard
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT6 May 1999 : Columns: 462-463
Birth CertificatesDr. Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list those purposes for which her Department and its executive agencies require a birth certificate to be furnished by (i) employees, (ii) contractors, (iii) those applying for employment or contracts and (iv) other persons. [83083] Mr. Foulkes: The Department for International Development may ask to see a birth certificate as a proof of identity when recruiting staff directly. On retirement from service, and prior to payment of pension, a member of staff may be requested to produce a copy of their birth certificate as a double check on age. We require proof of date of birth before determining eligibility for a colonial pension. However, in almost every case the claimant’s birth certificate had been seen many years earlier by the relevant employer and/or pension authority. The requirement to produce a birth certificate in support of such a claim is therefore very rare. While we do not require birth certificates from contractors or consultants, we ask to see birth certificates for the children of staff working overseas to assess eligibility for various allowances including education allowances and holiday visit passages. The DFID has no executive agencies. Parliamentary copyright © is acknowledged |
