The digital verification services sector in the UK has developed over 17 years, contains considerable expertise, and contributes an estimated £2 billion to the UK economy. The government’s initial announcement threatened to undermine this sector and was in direct conflict with the government’s own policy to support a trusted digital identity sector. The government has since improved its engagement with this industry, but still risks missing out on the value of this expertise if it is not open to the different roles the private sector can play in helping to implement digital ID. (Conclusion, Paragraph 24)