Blunkett announces ID card plans

Every member of the British public could possess a biometric identity card by 2013, David Blunkett has told MPs.

The home secretary said ID card technology will be combined with passports and driving licences to create what will eventually become a compulsory system.

His announcement follows deep Cabinet divisions over a system which its critics fear will prove costly and unpopular.

The Cabinet last week gave its backing to ID cards "in principle".

But ministers, including Gordon Brown and Jack Straw, forced the home secretary to delay the introduction of a compulsory system and rejected proposals to fund it through general taxation.

Speaking in the Commons, the home secretary said ID cards would reduce asylum abuse, cut benefit fraud and tackle the issue of identity theft.

Blunkett called for a "thoughtful and sensible debate" as the proposed scheme is developed.

He said the government would "begin incrementally" by building a database using information submitted for passport and driving licence applications.

The home secretary set out a two-stage process - which would lead to parliament making ID cards compulsory when "the technology is seen to be working, take-up reaches an appropriate level and public acceptability of the card enables the implementation of a universal scheme".

Following the announcement, the Commons home affairs committee confirmed it is to hold an inquiry into the plan.

The total cost of equipping passports with biometric technology and subsequently developing a system of compulsory ID cards would be in the region of £3 billion, the government estimates.

But it claims that the vast majority of this sum already has to be spent to develop a system of biometric passports to fulfil international obligations.

"An ID card scheme will help tackle the crime and serious issues facing the UK, particularly illegal working, immigration abuse, ID fraud, terrorism and organised crime," said Blunkett.

"What we know the public want, which is what we are now proposing, is a scheme that can provide them with a secure and convenient way of confirming their identity, to protect it from theft, tackle terrorism and organised crime and ensure free public services only go to those entitled to them.''

The biometric cards, which will initially be held on a voluntary basis, will contain biometric details about their holders.

This could include iris scans and digitally stored fingerprints, the home secretary said.

"The combination of greater global mobility and advancing technology is making it increasingly difficult to protect and authenticate people's identity," he said.

"To deal with these 21st century challenges, the UK is to introduce secure passports using high-tech biometrics. We are looking similarly at more secure driving licences and intend to build on this technological infrastructure already being put in place, to develop a national ID card scheme."

Blunkett said the pace of change in technology meant it was now possible to prevent identity theft - and he insisted there "would be no exemptions from the scheme".

Accessed using special reader technology the information contained cards would be available to the police through a national database of information.

The new card, which will be free to the under-16s, will become necessary for citizens seeking to see a doctor, claim benefit or attend a Job Centre interview.

Whilst the over-75s will be issued with lifelong cards at a discount, ministers expect that the majority of people will be forced to renew their ID card every five years.

The Home Office said that details of the charging system were still under consideration. But it confirmed that those on low incomes would receive a discount or be able to pay for the card in instalments.

The opposition, however, warned that the system would have substantial civil liberties implications and would not necessarily prove effective.

"This is a feeble attempt to paper over the fact that the government is divided from top to bottom on the issue of ID cards," said shadow home secretary David Davis.

"This is a compromise, a fudge and a massive deferral that does not address the huge problems of illegal immigration, fraud, organised crime and terrorism.

"The British people deserve a policy that will stop terrorists, catch fraudsters and deter illegal immigrants.

"This scheme will do none of this, but will leave the taxpayer with a massive bill."

Liberal Democrat spokesman Mark Oaten expressed his party's opposition to the government's plan.

"The billions involved in this project would be much better spent providing more police in this country, making our streets safer and tackling crime," he told MPs.

"That is what the public wants - not a card which will do nothing to tackle fraud or terrorism."