• 6 February 2019, 13:00 – 14:30
  • Meeting room P, Portcullis House
  • Contact: postevents@parliament.uk, 02072198973
  • This event is open to Members of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and parliamentary staff.

MPs, Peers and their staff were invited for a working lunch to discuss the future of biometrics. Hosted by POST, in partnership with the Government Office for Science and the National Physical Laboratory, this intimate and informal session covered the effectiveness and limitations of biometric technologies, the ethical and privacy issues around the use of biometric data, and future challenges and opportunities for the UK.

Summary of the event

Experts and Government representatives spoke on the subject before answering questions. The session was chaired by Stephen Metcalfe MP.

Speakers included:

  • Dr Simon Whitfield, Deputy Director, Public Services Innovation, GO-Science*
  • Brenden Crean, Home Office Biometrics Programme Director
  • Professor Paul Wiles, Biometrics Commissioner
  • Dr Christophe Prince, Director, Home Office Data and Identity
  • Silkie Carlo, Director, Big Brother Watch
  • Dr Tony Mansfield, National Physical Laboratory
  • Professor Sarah Stevenage, University of Southampton
  • Professor Carole McCartney, Northumbria University
  • Sue Daley, Associate Director, Technology & Innovation, TechUK

*Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Advisor, sent his apologies that he was not able to attend the event due to a conflicting meeting in Brussels.