Implementation plans for identity assurance service spread net from Whitehall to NHS to Northern Ireland
An extra 15 public services are expected to begin using GOV.UK Verify, the identity assurance service under development by the Government Digital Service, in the course of next year.
They will join the seven that are already running in public beta phase and four in private beta, as part of the gradual roll out that is just beginning to look beyond Whitehall to the health service and devolved government in Northern Ireland.
One of the government's flagship digital projects, Verify involves using one of nine certified companies to confirm that a service user has provided the correct identity. They perform checks for the initial verification and can then provide authentication to a public authority through an online hub.
A new Verify blogpost includes two HM Revenue & Customs services that were already earmarked for connection: Inheritance tax online and View your medical benefit.
Whitehall additions
The newcomers are due to be connected to Verify from the latter part of this year, extending to July of next year. Most are from Whitehall departments, including Business, Innovation and Skills (Personal learning record and Bankruptcy online), the Ministry of Justice (Money claim online) and the Department for Education (Childminder for Ofsted).
But it also includes the first NHS services, a pilot for ‘View for your health record’ to be run in Liverpool and its Total Rewards statement; and Northern Ireland’s service to register a child’s birth.
The blog says that another 20 or so services may adopt Verify over the next year but planning is still in an early stage. It also emphasises that all the plans are subject to change.
Image: Simon Waldherr, Creative Commons through Wikimedia
