Digital driving licences to be introduced this year
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Digital driving licences will be introduced later this year under plans to use technology to "overhaul" public services. The licences will be available on a new government mobile phone app and will be accepted as a form of ID for buying restricted items like alcohol and for voting in elections, as well as proving someone's right to drive.
Veteran cards will also be available on the "GOV.UK Wallet" app when it launches this summer, with DBS checks, Blue Badges and other government-issued credentials to come later down the line. Science Secretary Peter Kyle said the app "will mean that every letter or identity document you receive from the government could be issued to you virtually".
Politics latest: Sir Keir Starmer says 'terrorism has changed'. The changes follow a report which found that public services were missing out on £45bn in productivity savings because of old and outdated technology. The app will also aim to make using government services easier, such as applying for childcare and benefits, finding an apprenticeship or reporting a lost passport.
Other features will include notifications on new policy and service announcements, while an AI chatbot may be added in the future to help people find answers to "complex and niche questions", the government said. Physical documents will still be available, but the aim is that all government services will have to offer a digital alternative by the end of 2027.
