Application form asking for Mother's maiden name?

[Ruffian]

DS applying for everything and anything at the moment trying to get his first job. He's filled in a number of application forms, all seemed pretty standard. Tonight he was filling in a form for temporary xmas mail sorting.

The form asked for his Town of birth which seemed a bit over the top but also 'Mother's name at her birth including middle name'.

AIBU to think this is unnecessary and intrusive? I have never seen a question like that on an application form and DS said 'isn't that the sort of thing they ask you for banking security?'

Some public sector jobs do a vetting procedure before employment where the person would be entrusted with sensitive information. It could be for those reasons because if he's got access to bank cards, mail with personal information etc he could potentially be involved in identity theft - I think DH had to go through a vetting procedure when he became a postie.

I've had to fill in such info for a number of jobs, even a data entry role at royal mail for one. Not unusual.

I think some security clearances require this as others have said.