Lobby group slams government smartcard plans

NEWS A smartcard lobby group has criticised the UK government for a lack of vision in its efforts to modernise public services. The Smartcard Club warns that the government's current approach could force citizens to carry separate cards for different functions. It argued that because there is no overall strategy currently in place government departments could develop different standards for smartcards. However, the lobby group sets out guidelines in a report on how a central modernisation strategy would force government departments to adopt a single standard, and it challenged the government to rethink its strategy. Speaking on behalf of the Smartcard Club, Perri 6, senior research fellow at Strathclyde University, urged the government to act on the report or risk a breakdown in the delivery of public services.