Speeches by Mullane.

“The Chair just alluded to, and you answered the question about, who was there—councillors; MPs—who you would speak to, and that kind of thing. How would you know that there was not pressure?”

“Okay. Simon Foster, as an outsider to the SAG, do you have confidence after listening to this today that SAGs are free of political influence?”

“What risk do you think the mandatory element of digital ID presents to somebody’s privacy and other rights?”

“Finally, how do you see it going forward? Could there be a creep of digital ID that might put people’s privacy and human rights at risk? Is that something that worries you?”

“Could you give me an example of it being intentional?”

“Do you have any examples of individual rights in other countries that you feel have been affected by digital ID?”

“I am the MP for Dagenham and Rainham, which is quite an impoverished area. Since this announcement was made, my inbox has been full of, “No, thank you. You didn’t put it in your manifesto.” As Professor Whitley just said, it is a sense of unfairness that really upsets people, not the Big Brother aspect of it. As you sa…”

“If it is that good, would you agree that the Government should put it in an early offer to the public?”

“Okay, the Government, then.”

“Given how the public feel about politics at the moment, would you say that still stands? If this is about going for quick wins and winning people over, as the Tony Blair Institute says, should the Government put it in a manifesto if this is so good and beneficial? Equally, it has been suggested that the Home Office is …”

“I want to pick up on what Professor Whitley said in his opening statement, that the Government are the best judge of ID.”

“Could you give us an example?”

“How do you think you are going to guide the Government on assessing which occupations should go on the lists?”

“Following on from your point earlier, businesses in my seat of Dagenham and Rainham would want the welders from around the area. It is about the skills piece, isn’t it?”

“My question is about temporary shortage lists and skill shortages. What do you think about the Government avoiding temporary migration routes? Is there a danger that they get used indefinitely?”

“What progress have the Government made in addressing the recommendations in the MAC’s 2024 review of the seasonal worker scheme?”

“Do you think it is right to reduce reliance on, say, migrant workers coming into food production? Do you think there will be problems up the road?”

“Going back to your earlier point, do you think it is about the employers? If you read the studies of what actually goes on, you can see that some really value their workers and make sure they are paid well and in good accommodation, but there is a group, going back to your reinforcement point, that does not. The proper…”

“Thank you for coming to the Committee today. We went to the National Crime Agency, where this issue was discussed. They gave their perspective and some case history to us. I have to say, personally, it was one of the most disturbing things I have seen for many years. I do not know if the public are as aware of this as …”

“With local authorities having been cut back with the MASHs, and the police as well, do you think that there is the capability, if anything was to change, to deal with it?”