As the government prepares to embark on an autumn lobbying campaign to convince the public about the merits of its proposed national identity card scheme, it should look no further for support than a UK construction industry that has long since been light years ahead of the game.
To date, and 10 years since its launch, more than 700,000 cardholders have volunteered their personal details and completed health and safety tests. The cost of obtaining cards has been halved, and developments in chip technology mean that the amount of information that can be held on a card has grown beyond all recognition.
CSCS leaders have been quietly engaging in dialogue with Home Office working groups over the synergies that can be achieved with Whitehall’s national ID proposals. But it has long since been recognised that the main obstacle to any association between the two is the public’s opposition to faceless bureaucrats knowing their personal details.
However CSCS’ unique selling point is that construction has accepted the case for ID cards; it already has a critical mass of users and a wave of support from key sectors of our vast industry. But will the industry feel the same should CSCS decide to share its database with Whitehall? After months of political manoeuvring, infighting and shock headlines, news that CSCS managers have finally laid out plans for its future is long overdue. Over the coming months CSCS will put its troubles behind it, appoint a chief executive, create a management structure and attempt to become self-financing as it lays roots in shiny new offices.
However alarming the revelations this week that police are investigating an international fraud ring relating to counterfeit CSCS cards (see news), CSCS administrators are quietly reassured by the fact that the criminal fraternity feels the need to produce bogus cards — as this means that they now hold real value. The task ahead for the CSCS’ chief executive will be to ensure this is an activity that does not become commonplace.
...and Swampy
Sir Neville Simms, the government’s new sustainability tsar, warns this week that: “There’s scepticism and belief that this might go away, which is not the case … if you want to supply to the government you must be sustainable".
And he should know: after doing battle with Swampy and his mates at Tarmac’s Twyford Down motorway extension, Simms has learned valuable lessons about the merits of sustainable development. His primary task will be to ensure the highest standards of sustainability in the public sector’s procurement policies. One idea under consideration is to introduce a grading system for contractors so that the government can measure their performance before awarding work. With so many millions of pounds of public sector jobs up for grabs, you’d better listen to Sir Neville – or risk getting left behind.
