To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidance the Information Commissioner has given to (a) local education authorities and (b) local authorities on the collection and the use of biometric identification, including fingerprint recognition, for the provision of local authority services. (85547)

I understand that the Information Commissioner has received inquiries from a range of public authorities about the use of biometrics for the delivery of services, and that he has provided guidance in response to the specific inquiries. He has not issued generic guidance on the use of biometric identification.