By Polly Raymond, 26 June 1998 09:48
NEWS Barclays Bank has launched trials of a Government-endorsed smartcard, which allows individuals to register employment and tax details over the Internet. The first application of smartcard technology in the public sector, the 'Barclays Endorse' trials are backed by the public services minister, Dr David Clarke. A Cabinet office spokeswoman said there are no firm plans at present to roll out the project nationally or widen it to other services, but she did say there is "potential for extending its use to passport renewal, driving licence and benefit claims". The pilot will work through a network of kiosks in branches around the country, where cardholders can input employment and tax details using the smartcard - incorporating a digital signature - onto the Government's 'intelligent form' via the Internet. The intelligent form, or iform, was developed late last year by EDS to help the Inland Revenue cut down paperwork. According to the Cabinet Office official, Barclays and National Westminster Bank were partners in this project, but Barclays has taken it a stage further. UK law doesn't yet consider digital signatures to be as reliable as written ones. But Barclays claims the Endorse project will be key in developing a framework to make them legally admissible. The cabinet spokeswoman supported the drive, saying: "Digital signatures aren't illegal but their status has yet to be tested in a UK court."
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