Identity Card Act 2006

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Contents 1 What the Act does 2 June 2008 3 May 2008 4 April 2008 5 March 2008 6 February 2008 7 January 2008 8 December 2007 9 November 2007 10 October 2007 11 July 2007 12 June 2007 13 May 2007 14 April 2007 15 March 2007 16 February 2007 17 January 2007 18 December 2006 19 November 2006 20 October 2006 20.1 Parliamentary Questions 20.2 Progress Report Published 21 August 2006 22 March 2006 23 December 2005 24 Links 25 Appendix - The Bill's Progress

What the Act does

Our View The more information a government has on each of its citizens, the more powerful it becomes. If used judiciously and tempered by clear limits and safeguards against abuse then the potential for unwarranted surveillance is diminished. In the UK however these safeguards are absent. There is no right to privacy recognised in UK law; nor is there a general 'right to know' about what is done in our name. We cannot check, as a matter of right, that what they record is accurate and that improper records are eliminated. It is the recourse to a written constitution that enabled Germans to prohibit the inclusion of fingerprints or serial numbers revealing age or personal details on ID cards. Britain, without a system of entrenched rights or a written constitution, has no such protection.

Firstly it introduces an ID card system to the UK. It would be voluntary only in the sense that you could not be charged with a criminal offence for not carrying the card.

Secondly and in some ways more controversially the Identity Card Bill proposes to create a National Information Register. It would hold 50 different sorts of information on each individual, this ranges from name, address and date of birth to a record of all the occasions on which your record has been accessed and by whom. The Bill leaves open the possibility of extending this list in the future through secondary legislation. The Home Secretary will have the power to change information held on an individual on the NIR if he believes it to be incorrect or inaccurate without the consent of or informing the individual concerned.

Once entered on the register data would remain as long as the ID scheme was in existence and individuals would be required to notify the Secretary of State of every change of circumstance affecting the information on the register or any errors in the data concerning the individual. Failure to do so would incur a fine of up to £1000. In addition to personal information to confirm identity, the ID register and card will contain biometric information such as iris scans and fingerprints.

It is true that the Government has much of this data already but the unique identifier assigned to each NIR record would mean that for the first time different departments could cross-reference and check all the information that is held about us, the Inland Revenue could check our health records, for example. Details will be kept of when we request details of what information is being kept about us, but we would not be informed of who is accessing and using this data. The Government will have a very detailed picture of how we live our lives, far more so than is necessary for a simple identification scheme, but we will have no control over who has access to this information held about us.

June 2008

On 9th June 2008 Martin Linton MP (Labour) asked Her Majesty’s Government what estimate she has made of the likely effect of the introduction of identity cards on levels of identity fraud?

Minister of State for the Home Office Meg Hillier responded We estimate that ID cards will prevent at least £310 million of ID fraud as they are implemented. Clearly, the benefits of the ID card scheme will increase as take-up increases after the 2011 roll-out to the general population.

Andrew MacKay MP (Conservative) wished to know if he Minister believes that ID cards should be made compulsory?

Meg Hillier replied that

"We believe that once ID cards have been rolled out to the general population, and then only if there is wide acceptance of the scheme, the Government of the day could make a proposal to Parliament to vote on whether ID cards should be compulsory, but there are no plans for compulsion at the point of introduction in 2011….it is worth adding that 80 per cent. of British citizens currently have passports, and we envisage that, about 10 years after the roll-out in 2011, we will see a similar take-up of either passports or ID cards for the population, which is a pretty good coverage".

Finally Damian Green MP (Conservative) sought greater clarification on the Governments position. He pointed out that Ministers have said that it would not be compulsory to carry ID cards. At Crewe and Nantwich, they said that it would be compulsory to carry ID cards. Will the Minister say whether it is now the new Labour vision of Britain that if people nip out to the corner shop to buy a pint of milk, they must carry their papers to show to the authorities, and is she proud of that vision?

Meg Hillier concluded

“the legislation that has passed through the House makes it absolutely clear that there is no compulsion to carry an ID card. Furthermore, section 13 of the Identity Cards Act 2006 prohibits the presentation of the card specially to access a public service”.

Damian Green (Conservative) also wished to ask whether airline pilots with (a) British and (b) foreign nationality will be required to possess identity cards along with other airside staff ahead of the general population?

Meg Hillier responded

“The Identity and Passport Service will begin to issue the first identity cards to people working in sensitive areas (such as airport workers who work airside) from the second half of 2009. The precise details of the scheme have yet to be decided, but it is intended that, in due course, it should cover airport staff with a restricted zone pass, whether of British or foreign nationality and this could include some airline pilots”.

May 2008

On 7 May 2008, Nigel Evans MP (Conservative) asked what the Government estimate was for the cost of introducing identity cards for foreign nationals in the UK.

Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

"The latest estimate for the cost of introducing identity cards for foreign nationals is planned to be published on 6 May 2008 in the document 'Identity Cards Act 2006—Section 37 Report to Parliament about the Likely Costs of the ID Cards Scheme'. The document will be available to Members in the parliamentary Libraries."

"This report is published every six months and contains the most recent estimate for the costs of introducing identity cards for foreign nationals."

April 2008

On April 28, there was a short Lords debate on identity cards:

Lord Young of Norwood Green asked how much identity cards would cost and how this would be split between the Government and the public.

Lord West of Spithead (Parliamentary Under-Secretary) replied: "My Lords, a detailed charging strategy for the national identity scheme is still to be fully developed, although it is intended that, over time, the running costs of the scheme will be recovered from fees, just as they are now for passports. The national identity scheme delivery plan, published on 6 March this year, reiterates the commitment to set the fee for an identity card in 2009-10 at £30 or less."

Lord Young of Northwood Green then suggested that the costs of identity cards was justified because the cost of identity fraud costs the UK economy £1.7bn per year. He also asked whether the Government would ensure absolute security on the systems used and control the costs.

Viscount Bridgeman asked what contractual arrangements had been made to protect the Government and public funds in the event that the identity card scheme was scrapped should the Conservatives be elected. Lord West did not know the answer to this, but said he would look in to it. He said in any event, it was unlikely the Tories would get elected.

Lord Maxton suggested that identity cards would help in the fight against electoral fraud.

Lord West assured his colleagues that the Government would do its utmost to protect people's data. He said data would be held on the national identity register (NIR) and that they would have three blocs—three systems that would form the NIR. He claimed they had made sure that there is personal security, physical security, legislative security and technical security.

Baroness Falkner of Margravine cited a London School of Economics report that suggested identity cards would cost £300 rather than the £30 the Government claims. She also asked whether if a card is lost, stolen or someone changes their name, they would have to pay the cost.

Lord West responded that someone would have to pay the cost again as one does when one loses other things. He said the overall cost was now thought to be £5.46bn.

Lord Lawson of Blaby aruged that electoral fraud should be dealt with before ID cards are introduced.

Lord West said he agreed and that electoral fraud "strikes at the roots of our democracy."

On April 28, Willie Rennie MP (Liberal Democrat) asked the Government what process is used to admit UK service personnel who are nationals of Commonwealth countries through UK airport immigration; and what representations they had received on difficulties experienced by those personnel.

Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

"The Immigration Act 1971 exempts from immigration control a member of the United Kingdom's armed forces subject to service law. A person is regarded as exempt from control (except for the provisions relating to deportation) so long as he or she is a member of those forces.

"Members of the United Kingdom's armed forces are required to produce to an immigration officer documentary evidence of their exemption from control. They may hold a national passport which has already been endorsed with an exemption from control stamp or, alternatively, they may hold a personal identity card issued by the military authority to which they belong. Both are normally sufficient to demonstrate their entitlement to be treated as exempt.

"Data relating to representations made by HM forces personnel about difficulties experienced by them when passing through the immigration control are not collated and are therefore unavailable."

On April 28, Lynne Jones MP (Labour) asked the Government which categories of foreign nationals require visas; which categories will be issued with identity cards in future and from what date; and which categories will be required to obtain the relevant documentation (a) before and (b) after entry to the UK.

Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

"The categories of foreign nationals requiring visas can be found on the following website: www.ukvisas.gov.uk along with the documentation required to support applications for entry clearance to the UK. Non-visa nationals from outside the EEA will normally only require entry clearance if visiting the UK for longer than six months. The rollout strategy document Introducing Compulsory Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals' published on 6 March (a copy is available in the House Library) sets out the approach to issuing identity cards for foreign nationals. We will phase in the introduction of the card, starting with those applying for leave to remain as students. Within three years all new applicants will have to apply for an identity card alongside their immigration application."

On April 28, Lynne Jones MP (Labour) asked the Government what would distinguish the identity cards to be issued to foreign nationals from the visas that are currently issued to them.

Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

"The identity card for foreign nationals will be a highly secure polycarbonate card which will contain the holder's biometric identifiers in a tamperproof embedded chip including a photograph and two fingerprints. The visas issued contain photographs but unlike the cards do not store the fingerprints that are enrolled when an application is made outside the UK. The biometric data collected as part of the visa application process is checked against immigration records in the UK."

On April 3, David Davis MP (Conservative) asked the Home Secretary what discussions she and Ministers in her Department have had with representatives of high street banks on identity cards in the last 12 months; and what was the date of each such meeting. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith replied:

"There have been no ministerial meetings on identity cards with representatives from the banking sector within the last 12 months."

March 2008

On March 26, Stephen Williams MP (Liberal Democrat) asked the Innovations, Universities and Skills Secretary whether he had considered the impact on young people of having to pay for an identity card when applying for a student loan. Minister of State Bill Rammell replied:

"There are no plans to require students to have an ID card to apply for a student loan or any other form of student support, therefore no estimates of the cost have been made.

"The policy on the introduction of identity cards on a voluntary basis rests with the Home Office. Currently either a passport or a birth certificate (accompanied by an identity confirmation form signed by a person of good standing) is required as proof of identity for students applying for a Government student loan. We have no current plans to change this, although the process for verifying the identity of applicants is kept under review."

On March 25, Eric Pickles MP (Conservative) asked the Home Secretary in what circumstances local authorities will have access to the National Identity Register. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Meg Hillier replied:

"There will be no general access to the National Identity Register. However, identity services will provide accredited organisations, which could include local authorities, with the means to verify identity, with an individual's consent, against the National Identity Register. There are no plans to provide local authorities with information from the National Identity Register without obtaining consent from the individual which would require the specific approval by Parliament of regulations under section 20 of the Identity Cards Act 2006."

On March 12, Shailesh Vara MP (Conservative) asked the Home Secretary when she plans to answer question 172036 tabled by Mr Vara on the 3rd December 2007 on the identity card scheme. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier replied:

"I replied to the hon. Member on 19 February 2008, Official Report, column 584W."

On March 10, John Hayes MP (Conservative) asked the Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary whether following the introduction of identity cards on a voluntary basis, an applicant for a student loan will be required to demonstrate that they hold an identity card in order to complete the application. Minister of State Bill Rammellreplied:

"The policy on the introduction of identity cards on a voluntary basis rests with the Home Office. Currently either a passport or a birth certificate (accompanied by an identity confirmation form signed by a person of good standing) is required as proof of identity for students applying for a Government Student Loan. We have no current plans to change this, although the process for verifying the identity of applicants is kept under review."

On March 3, Lord Waddington (Conservative) asked the Government how many people they estimate will have been issued with identity cards by May 2010. Lord Bassam of Brighton(Lords in Waiting, HM Household) replied:

"My Lords, the detailed plans for the roll-out of identity cards have yet to be finalised, so it is not possible to give an estimation of the number of cards that will have been issued by 2010. However, I expect that updated plans will be published shortly."

There followed a short debate on the issue of identity cards.

Lord Waddington asked how it came about that records of 3m driving licence applicants were lost in Iowa and asked Lord Bassam what guarantee he could give that the identity register would not also be lost. He also asked how the issue of cards to law-abiding non-European foreigners applying to stay here will help in the fight against illegal immigration and terrorism.

Lord Bassam of Brighton responded that 10,000 individuals have been matched up with previous asylum applications and therefore it would help with "the protection of our borders and in protecting us from illegal immigration."

Baroness Hanham (Conservative) asked whether the computer systems for dealing with biometric ID cards were in place and if they were not, when they would be. She also asked whether the government would be able to cope with the new biometric ID cards as they are rolled out.

Lord Bassam responded that a computer system was not in place but they were making "good progress." He asked whether the opposition supported the introduction of identity cards for foreign nationals.

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat) stated that the Liberal Democrats’ position was that the money would be "far better spent on proper measures to secure our borders and anti-terrorist intelligence work." She asked what the cost would be: for an individual to have a card, to the taxpayer for the whole scheme, and for a business to implement it.

Lord Bassam replied that roughly 70 per cent of the costs of introducing ID cards would be required in any event to ensure that the full secure biometric passports are introduced. He said the remainder of the costs would be “recovered” by issuing identity cards and argued that the Conservative proposals to spend the money on border police instead were unrealistic.

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock (Labour) suggested that the Conservative Party would end up supporting identity cards if they were near to achieving power. Lord Bassam agreed and pointed out that they are currently deeply divided over the issue.

Lord Skelsmerdale (Conservative) asked what the use of the cards is until the computer programme is up and running, if overseas immigrants are to get cards but the computer system is in the early stages of procurement.

Lord Bassam merely responded that it will be a "sophisticated system" and would protect our borders against terrorists and illegal immigrants.

February 2008

On February 26, David Davis MP (Conservative) asked the Home Secretary with reference to the identity cards scheme cost report published in November 2007, if she would provide a break down by main budget heading of the £144 million in operational costs for providing identity cards to foreign nationals from October 2007 and October 2017. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith replied:

"The operational cost estimates for providing identity card to foreign nationals cannot be broken down further until we conclude commercial processes.

"As with all cost estimates covering a ten year period the estimates contained in the identity cards cost report November 2007 are subject to change in light of new information or assumptions."

On February 26, David Davis MP (Conservative) asked the Home Secretary with reference to the Identity Cards Scheme Cost report published in November 2007, if she would provide a break down by main budget heading of the £38 million in set-up costs for providing identity cards to foreign nationals from October 2007 and October 2017. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith replied:

"The set up cost estimates for providing identity card to foreign nationals cannot be broken down further until we conclude commercial processes.

"As with all cost estimates covering a 10-year period the estimates contained in the Identity Cards Cost Report November 2007 are subject to change in light of new information or assumptions."

On February 25, Christopher Huhne MP (Liberal Democrat) asked the Home Secretary in what ways the requirement for foreign nationals to have identity cards within the UK will be monitored; and what assessment she has made of the likely effect of such monitoring on community relations. Minister of State Liam Byrne replied: "When the new requirement for foreign nationals to apply for an identity card under the UK Borders Act 2007 commences this year, we will record how many cards we issue—and to whom. Details of our roll-out strategy will shortly be published. We do not expect the new requirements to affect community relations, although we are presently engaging with the Commission for Equality and Human Rights about this."

On February 25, Christopher Huhne MP (Liberal Democrat) asked the Home Secretarywhether foreign nationals will be required to carry identity cards with them at all times within the UK; and whether the police will have powers to arrest and detain anyone whom they believe to be a foreign national until such time as their identity is proved. Minister of State Liam Byrne replied: "The UK Borders Act 2007 expressly provides that regulations may not make provision to require a person to carry an identity card for foreign nationals at all times. The police may arrest and detain a person but only where there is suspected involvement in an offence and not simply because they believe the person to be a foreign national."

On February 25, Alistair Carmichael MP (Liberal Democrat) asked the Home Secretary what criteria the Government would use to determine whether an identity card is to be required in order for a public service to be provided. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier replied:

"Identity cards will provide the most reliable and convenient method of proving identity and will help in the more efficient delivery of public services.

"However, there are no plans at this stage to make the delivery of particular public services dependent on the production of an identity card."

On February 18, Damian Green MP (Conservative) asked whether the Home Office plans to keep data on foreign nationals issued with identity cards after they have left the UK. Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

"The Secretary of State will retain the biometric information provided by those who apply for an identity card for foreign nationals for as long as the Secretary of State thinks the information is likely to be of use for any of the purposes specified under section 8(2) of the UK Borders Act 2007. That will, in all likelihood, include retaining such information even after an individual has left the UK. Where a foreign national becomes a British citizen, the Secretary of State is required to destroy the biometric information in her possession unless it is to be retained and used for the purposes of another Act of Parliament.

" The Secretary of State will be able, as now, to retain and use non-biometric biographical information provided by foreign nationals under her Common Law powers, provided that this is compatible with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998. This is the case even where the foreign national leaves the UK."

On February 18, Damian Green MP (Conservative) asked whether the Government have authority to hold details of foreign nationals who have been issued with identity cards but are no longer resident in the UK. Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

"The Secretary of State has the power, by regulations made under section 8 of the UK Borders Act 2007, to retain biometric information about foreign nationals who have applied for a biometric immigration document—an identity card for foreign nationals—even if they leave the UK. The Secretary of State may also retain biographical information about foreign nationals who are subject to immigration control after they have left the UK, under her Common Law powers, provided this is done compatibly with the safeguards of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998. It is essential to retain this information, for example, to identify those who may seek to abuse immigration control by seeking to return to the UK in a false identity."

On February 18, Damian Green MP (Conservative) asked whether the Government have statutory powers to share information held on biometric immigration documents and identity cards issued to foreign nationals resident in the United Kingdom with other national governments and international organisations such as Interpol. Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

"The Secretary of State has the power to share information with other countries and international organisations, provided this is done compatibly with the safeguards of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998. When the identity cards for foreign nationals are rolled out from this year, information provided can be shared, subject to these key safeguards.

"The UK Borders Act 2007 enables the Secretary of State to make regulations requiring a foreign national to apply for a biometric document—the identity card for foreign nationals. By regulations made under section 8, the Secretary of State may use biometric information collected as part of the application for the card for any of the specified purposes including the prevention, investigation or prosecution of an offence or to protect national security.

"Regulations under section 8 also preserve the ability of the Secretary of State to share biometric information relying on her Common Law powers.

"Additionally, the Secretary of State will be able, as now, to share non-biometric information under her existing Common Law powers.

"Where it is right to do so, the Secretary of State is able to share information with other governments and international organisations."

On February 4, Damian Green MP (Conservative) asked what information to be included on identity cards for British nationals would also be on ID cards for foreign nationals. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier replied:

"The precise information to be recorded on an identity card issued to British citizens will be prescribed in regulations to be approved by Parliament... There will be some core identity information that will be common to both ... such as photograph of the holder, name and date of birth. However, the biometric immigration document will also include details of the holder's immigration status, as well as whether employment is allowed or restricted, and if the holder is entitled to public funds."

On February 4, Mark Hoban MP (Conservative) asked how much had been spent on the identity card project to date. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier replied:

"Between the financial years 2003-04 and 2005-06, £41.1 million was spent by the Identity Cards Programme in total. Of this expenditure, £31.6 million was spent on consulting and contracting services and £180,000 was spent on polling and opinion research... The latest Cost Report may be found at: http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/publications-legislative.asp."

January 2008

On January 10, Lord Pearson of Rannoch (UKIP) asked whether the introduction of a European Union identity card had been discussed with other EU member states. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Lord West of Spithead replied:

" "We have held no such discussions as there is no proposal for a harmonised European Union identity card... In December 2005, during the United Kingdom presidency of the EU, a set of council conclusions was agreed on the minimum security standards for national identity cards issued by member states, but these are not binding on member states.”

On January 7, David Davies MP (Conservative) asked whether non-EU citizens’ identity cards would state whether they were eligible for NHS treatment. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier replied:

" “ID cards issued under the UK Borders Act to non-EU citizens will record an individual's immigration status, indicating whether the person has limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain. It will not contain details of the individual's right to NHS services.”

On January 7, Mark Hoban MP (Conservative) asked how much of the cost of the identity card scheme would be covered by fees for cards. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier replied:

" “A detailed charging structure for the national identity scheme has yet to be determined... However, it is expected that the running costs of the scheme will be recovered from fees just as they are now for passports.”

On January 7, Philip Hammond MP (Conservative) asked for the estimated cost of using three databases as opposed to one database in the identity card scheme, and of including iris biometrics. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier replied:

" “I would refer the hon. Member to the latest cost report that may be found at: http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/publications-legislative.asp.”

December 2007

On December 3, Mark Hoban MP (Conservative) asked for the estimated cost of an identitity card and passport package. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier replied:

" "It is expected that the full cost of Identity Services provided by the National Identity Scheme will be recovered through charges to individuals and to private and public user organisations... The previous best estimate for the average unit cost of the combined passport and ID card package was £93, based on 2005 prices. A figure at 2007-08 prices would be subject to increase, in line with the rate of inflation."

November 2007

On November 26, Adrian Bailey MP (Labour) asked whether identity cards would be introduced for foreign nationals, and what progress had been made in developing a biometric ID system. Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

" "Recent Royal Assent for the UK Borders Act 2007 will allow the Government to introduce compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals from 2008... The Government are already deploying biometric systems in order to strengthen our border security. A system of biometric visas has been rolled out in about 117 countries around the world."

On November 26, Patrick Mercer MP (Conservative) asked whether immigrants resident in the UK for less than three months should be required to carry ID cards to combat terrorism. Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

" "Our concern is to multiply the tools to fight terrorism that we have at our disposal, but the important point... is the need for ID cards to allow us to come down harder on illegal immigration... Biometric ID cards for foreign nationals will help with that."

On November 26, Keith Vaz MP (Labour) asked what protections were in place for data gathered under the identity card scheme. Minister of State Liam Byrne replied:

" "The Prime Minister has asked PricewaterhouseCoopers for an independent review of the matter, the Cabinet Secretary is examining data security in all Departments and the Information Commissioner will be given power to spot-check Departments' compliance with the regulations... (and) under the Identity Cards Act 2006, a national identity commissioner will be appointed to oversee the national identity register, reporting annually to Parliament."

On November 26, David Davis MP (Conservative) asked what could be done if biometric data was lost by the government, especially when that data would be shared with other European governments. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith replied:

" "The current plan for the national identity register is for biometric information to be held separately from biographical information, thereby safeguarding against the sort of eventuality that the right hon. Gentleman described."

On November 26, David Davis MP (Conservative) asked whether foreign nationals with biometric visas would be required to have identity cards. Minister of State Kim Howells replied:

" "From next year, we will incrementally require all foreign nationals, who are subject to immigration control and in the UK for over six months, to apply for an identity card (Biometric Immigration Document). This will eventually include applicants applying for further leave to remain in the UK, who have previously been issued with a biometrically enabled visa."

On November 20, Peter Lilley MP (Conservative) asked whether the privacy implications of identity cards would be reviewed. Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling replied:

" "There are a number of things we need to consider in relation to the holding of data by Government and the transfer of that information, which is why my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister asked for a report into the matter."

On November 20, Mark Hoban MP (Conservative) asked what proportion of the cost of the identity card and biometric passport scheme covered passports alone. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier MP replied:

" "The cost of registering individuals for passports and ID cards is included in common costs because the same technology infrastructure and business processes will be used. In many cases, the same application will result in the issue of both a passport and an ID card. The latest Cost Report may be found at: http://www.ips.gov.uk/identity/publications-legislative.asp."

October 2007

On October 24, Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy MP asked what were the annual costs of the scheme since 2003-04. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier MP replied:

"Between the financial years 2003-04 and 2005-06, £41.1 million was spent by the identity cards programme in total… Section 37 of the Identity Cards Act 2006 requires the Secretary of State to lay a report before Parliament every six months which details an updated figure for the cost of the national identity scheme over the following 10 years. The latest cost report was laid before Parliament on 10 May 2007, Official Report, column 24WS and can be found at: http://www.identitycards.gov.uk/downloads/2007-05-10CostReport.pdf."

On October 1, Meg Hillier MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State replied to Ben Wallace MP (Conservative) on how many locations throughout the UK will be used for the capture of biometric data:

"No decision has been made yet on the number or location of biometric enrolment centres for identity cards. However, it is likely that they could be sited in the same location (but not necessarily the same offices) as the 69 local offices being opened throughout the UK for passport interviews."

July 2007

On July 24, Meg Hillier MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State answered Liberal Democrat Mark Oaten MP on whether there is to be a pilot of the identity card scheme:

"There has yet to be a pilot of the identity cards scheme. However, there is provision in section 44(4) of the Identity Cards Act 2006 that will enable provisions of the Act to be brought into force in stages so as to allow for a trial in a particular area or relating to a particular category of persons. It also allows for transitional provisions following any such trial."

On July 24, in response to Conservative Tim Boswell MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Meg Hillier MP addressed the implications of the identity card scheme for traveller communities:

"Once identity cards are introduced, it is expected that Gypsies and Travellers would be able to apply for an identity card at the same time as applying for a passport."

On July 12, in response to Nicholas Clegg MP (Liberal Democrat), Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP answered on how to ensure that those registering their identity give correct information:

"It is intended that the National Identity Scheme will make use of the postcode address file as a method of address validation. However, it will not be the only source of validation and section 9 of the Identity Cards Act will enable checks to be made against records held on other databases to ensure that the address at which the individual is genuinely resident is recorded. Section 28 of the Identity Card Act makes it a criminal offence to provide false information to the register, with a maximum term of imprisonment of two years available on conviction on indictment."

On July 12, Labour MP Jacqui Smith addressed a question from Nicholas Clegg MP(Liberal Democrat) on provisions for registering the identities of the homeless:

"Precise arrangements have yet to be made for identity card applications, including how it will be possible for homeless people to register for a national identity card. However, we intend to draw on the experience of other government departments such as the Department for Work and Pensions and the national health service that already provide services to homeless people."

On July 9, Liam Byrne MP, Minister of State for the Home Office, replied to Labour MP David Kidney on whether ID cards will be of use in combating terrorism:

"The House will remember words said by my right hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Joan Ryan) who quoted some of the material that has been found in al-Qaeda training manuals encouraging would-be terrorists to proliferate the number of identities that they have. It was the former director general of the Security Service who put it well when she said:

‘Widespread use of false documents is an essential aspect of terrorist activities... ID cards will make it more difficult for terrorists to operate.’"

On July 9, the new Home Secretary Jacqui Smith answered Conservative MPs Bob Neill and David Evennett on the progress of the scheme:

"ID cards are essential in combating identity fraud and illegal immigration and in disrupting organised crime and the continued threat of terrorism."

June 2007

On June 20, John Reid MP, Home Secretary addressed the question of Nicholas Clegg MP (Liberal Democrat) on what percentage of the costs will be required to implement the biometric passport scheme across the UK:

"The estimated cost of introducing passports and ID cards over the next 10 years was published in the Identity Cards scheme costs report which was laid before Parliament on 10 May 2007. However, it was not possible to provide a separate figure for the cost of implementing biometric passports from that of the National Identity scheme as a whole, as many of the costs are applicable to both identity cards and passports."

On June 19, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, in a written reply to the question of Conservative MP Mark Francois on the costs incurred by the Home Office since the inception of the scheme until May 10:

Between the financial years 2003-04 and 2005-06, £41.1 million was spent by the Identity Cards Programme in total."

On June 18, Edward Garnier MP (Conservative) asked what facilities are in place or are planned for the manufacture of identity cards and for the processing of applications. Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, gave a written answer:

"The Identity and Passport Service will be responsible for the issue of identity cards to British citizens alongside the issue of British passports. However, no final decisions have yet been taken on the precise arrangements for the processing of applications or the manufacture of identity cards and this will depend on the outcome of future procurements."

On June 14, John Reid MP, Home Secretary replied to Liberal Democrat MP Nicholas Clegg who asked for the Government’s policy on the confiscation of identity cards:

The circumstances under which an ID card must be surrendered are set out in section 11, subsections (3) and (4), of the Identity Cards Act 2006. In particular, someone who is in possession of an ID card without lawful authority would be required to surrender the card as soon as is practicable to do so and a person who is in possession of an ID card that had expired, been cancelled or was invalid may be required to surrender it."

On the same date (June 14), John Reid MP also provided a written response to Nicholas Clegg MP on consideration for those with diseases such as Alzheimer's in regard to informed consent and accommodation into the system of application:

"The Identity Cards Act 2006 has been designed to allow for flexibility in the identity card application process. For example, in the case of an applicant who was unable to give informed consent or to sign an application form, it would be possible to provide in regulations for an authorised third party to make an application on the person's behalf, as happens currently with passport applications."

On June 14, John Reid MP, Home Secretary replied to Nicholas Clegg MP on provisions for those unable to travel to issuing centres for an interview:

"The Identity Cards Act 2006 has been designed to provide flexibility in the identity card application process. Regulations will be able to allow the Identity and Passport Service to accommodate the special needs of applicants, such as those unable to travel, either by making special arrangements or excluding particular individuals from the normal requirements."

May 2007

On May 22, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, Minister of State for the Home Office, replied to Conservative Lord Geddes on whether the figures in the Identity Cards Scheme Cost Report are inflated:

"The figures in the report are accurate. The previous report indicated £5.4 billion over 10 years; the current report indicates £5.5 billion and introduces the additional amount of £200 million. Those figures are robust and accurate and we hope that those who have the acuity to understand them will be able to affirm that."

Further Lord Foulkes of Cumnock asked whether it would be better to speed up the introduction of the scheme, and whether the card could be used as identification for voting in general elections. Baroness Scotland of Asthal responded:

"My Lords, we are introducing the scheme as speedily and as safely as possible and will continue to do so. Identity cards will have a number of valuable uses, one of which may be as my noble friend suggests."

On May 10, Stephen Timms MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury gave a reply to an oral question from Crispin Blunt MP on whether there is a contingency budget to underwrite potential excess costs:

"The arrangements for funding the identity cards scheme were agreed in November 2003. Costs will be met from existing departmental budgets, and from charges."

Further on May 10, Stephen Timms MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, also gave on spoken response to Damian Green on how the Government hopes it will record the information pertaining to 60 million citizens:

"I hope that the hon. Gentleman will listen to the views of Lord Stevens, who is advising his party on these matters and who, as the Prime Minister pointed out yesterday, has acknowledged the absolute benefits of an identity card scheme. He may well find that he, along with his hon. Friend, must rethink his position."

On May 8, John Reid MP, Home Secretary provided a written answer to Nicholas Clegg on whether EEA nationals will be compulsorily recorded on the National Identity Register and be issued with a biometric identity card:

"We will start issuing identity cards to British citizens from 2009, alongside compulsory biometric immigration documents to foreign nationals from 2008. No date has yet been set but, subject to further primary legislation, it is intended that registration on the National Identity Register should eventually become compulsory for everyone aged 16 and over who is resident in the United Kingdom for more than a prescribed period and this will include European Economic Area (EEA) nationals."

April 2007

On April 30, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State answered Labour MP Andrew MacKinlay on whether biometric documents for foreign nationals will include citizens of the Irish Republic:

“ The identity card scheme will apply throughout the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland. It is intended to apply to people of any nationality who are legally resident and aged 16 or over.”

On April 25, in answer to Mark Hoban MP on the cost of the identity card, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State said

Initial cost estimates for a card scheme were published in July 2002 in the consultation paper "Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud(CM5557)" As with any major project or programme, cost estimates will continue to be revised as it reaches key stages in its development, such as commencing procurement, signing contracts with suppliers and the commencement of live operations."

On April 19, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of Stateanswered Conservative MP Oliver Heald on whether biometric data of children aged 11 to 16 years captured for biometric passports will be transferred to the new Identity Cards database

"It is intended that British citizens aged 16 and over will become registered on the National Identity Register and receive an identity card alongside an application for an adult passport. It is only once such an application is received that biometrics will be recorded on the National Identity Register as part of the application process for a passport and identity card package."

On April 19, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State answered Conservative MP Mark Francoison the question of penalities incurred by the identity card

"A formal notice will be issued under section 31 of the Identity Cards Act to inform a person of a decision to impose a civil financial penalty for failure to comply with a specific requirement, such as a failure to notify a change of circumstances (under section 10) or to surrender an ID card when required (under section 11). The notice will set out the reasons for deciding to impose the penalty and the amount of the penalty as well as explaining the steps that the person may take to object to it. In addition, prior to the issue of a penalty notice, a warning letter will normally be issued to an individual to alert them that they appear to be liable to a civil penalty, explaining why this is the case and how they can meet the particular requirement in question and thus avoid the need for any penalty to be imposed."

March 2007

On 29th March, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State answered a question from Lynne Jones MP concerning the fingerprinting of children

"2 of the Identity Cards Act 2006 clearly establishes that only those aged 16 and over are eligible to be registered on the National Identity Register and issued with an identity card. Thus, there are no plans to record fingerprint biometrics of those aged under 16 on the National Identity Register for the purpose of issuing identity cards. The records of 'passport holders aged under 16 will not form part of the National Identity Register.

On 28th March , Liberal Democrat MP Nick Clegg asked the Home Secretary Rt Hon John Reid MP what assessment he had made of the results of the pilot project codenamed Lantern on the use of mobile fingerprint scanners

"The Lantern pilot is still in its early stages and the initial results and feedback received to date indicate that Lantern is delivering the expected business benefits and that officers are finding it easy to operate and a useful tool that they would not want to be withdrawn. Currently results are being returned to the device in less than two minutes with an accuracy rate of approximately 97 per cent. and a hit rate of 40 per cent. (i.e. 40 per cent. of people checked are recorded on IDENT1). This high hit rate reflects the environment in which the devices are being used—proactive, intelligence led policing.

Results indicate that Lantern is showing time savings beyond expectations and hence allowing officers to spend more time on the streets and providing a visible deterrent. Establishing a person's identity at the roadside avoids the need to arrest a person and take them to a custody suite to do this—a process which typically takes about three hours. Early results show that in encounters where officers have reported a time saving using Lantern, the average time saved has been about 90 minutes. There have also been a number of cases where Lantern has provided early identification of deceased persons carrying no ID and hence saved a considerable amount of police and coroners time and also enabled next of kin to be informed sooner. Cases have included fatal road traffic collisions, sudden deaths and suicide victims on railway lines."

[1]

On March 28, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State answered to a question by conservative MP John Hayes[2] concerning the seafarers identity documents

"The United Kingdom is a party to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention of 1958 (ILO 108). Seafarer Identity Documents (SIDs) issued under this Convention have been issued to British seafarers for many years. ILO SIDs held by nationals of other party states are accepted by the United Kingdom Immigration Service for shore leave and transit purposes. SIDs issued under this convention are issued solely for the purpose of facilitating shore leave and transit of seafarers in connection with seafaring activities and, as such, serve a different purpose to national identity cards. The ID cards scheme is intended for those legally resident or working in the UK for a specified period (likely to be three months) or longer."

On March 20, in response to Conservative MP Mark Hoban [3] on whether the Secretary of State for the Home department planned to bring forward legislation to make identity cards compulsory, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State explained that

"We will start issuing biometric immigration documents from 2008 and identity cards to British citizens from 2009. It is the Government's policy that ID cards should eventually be compulsory for everyone resident in the United Kingdom who is aged 16 or over. The UK Borders Bill currently before Parliament provides powers to require specified categories of foreign nationals to apply for a biometric immigration document. At some time in the future, further primary legislation will be introduced to provide the powers to require the remainder of the population to obtain an ID card and so to make ID cards compulsory."

The same day, in response to Conservative MP Oliver Heald [4] on what (a) personal data and (b) biometric data the Secretary of State planned identity cards will hold, Mrs Ryan answered

"It is intended that the identity card for British citizens will be valid as a travel document within the European economic area. As a result, like the passport, it will be need to meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements regarding information to be recorded on travel documents. Hence, the biographical information to be recorded on the identity card will closely match that currently recorded on the personal details page of the passport. With regard to biometric information, it is intended that the biometrics to be recorded on the identity card will be a subset of those to be recorded on the National Identity Register and will be in line with international requirements. This biometric information would be recorded securely on the card's chip and protected by encryption."

On March 19, in response to Labour MP David Taylor [5] on when the network of enrolment centres required by the national identity card scheme would open and whether there was not a risk that far from being the centrepiece of efforts to combat terrorism, illegal immigration, identity theft and benefit fraud, the centres could eventually help to create a hackable electronic leviathan containing 60 million detailed dossiers that could prove irresistible to international gangs of counterfeiters, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State replied

"The Identity and Passport Service is opening 69 new local offices, starting later this year, to meet in person and interview first-time passport applicants. Interviews are intended to deter and detect fraudulent passport applications."

"The majority of attempted frauds that are detected at present involve first-time adult applicants for passports. It is thus important that we take appropriate measures now to tackle that identity fraud. My hon. Friend will know that as we move forward into 2009, we will, further to protect people's identities, have to introduce the fingerprint biometric on the passport to ensure that our passports do not become second-class documents. Having 69 locations at which people can easily enrol their biometrics and have their biographical interview will thus make a big difference to how straightforward people will find the process and will enable us to protect people's identities, which is seen as reasonable by the majority of people in this country."

On March 15, Conservative MP Oliver Heald [6] asked Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State what recent estimate Home Secretary had made of the likely fee for an individual to obtain a stand-alone identity card without a passport element. She answered

"My right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke) announced on 13 October 2005 that "It will be affordable to set a charge of £30 at current prices for a standalone ID card which is valid for 10 years."

On March 12, Labour MP David Taylor [7]asked Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State what progress had been made in tendering the contracts for the (a) refurbishment and (b) construction of the regional offices required to administer the national identity card scheme;and what the locations were of the regional offices required to administer the national identity card scheme. To these questions, Mrs Ryan replied

"The Identity and Passport Service currently has no plans to set up further regional offices in addition to the current seven regional passport offices, in London, Newport, Peterborough, Glasgow, Durham, Liverpool and Belfast. An expanded local office network is already being put in place in order to meet and interview first-time applicants for passports and to prepare for recording biometrics. This office network consists of 69 offices throughout the UK, in the following proposed locations: Aberdeen, Aberystwyth, Andover, Armagh, Barnstaple, Belfast, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Birmingham, Blackburn, Boston, Bournemouth, Bristol, Bury St. Edmunds, Camborne, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Coleraine, Crawley, Derby, Dover, Dumfries, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter, Galashiels, Glasgow, Hastings, Hull, Inverness, Ipswich, Kendal, Kilmarnock, Kings Lynn, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Luton, Maidstone, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Newport, Newport (Isle of Wight), Northallerton, Northampton, Norwich, Oban, Omagh, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Scarborough, Shrewsbury, Sheffield, St. Austell, Stirling, Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea, Swindon, Warwick, Wick, Wrexham, Yeovil and York.

The network will be supplemented by remote interview sites for remote communities, where applicants will conduct their interview by video conferencing. The contract for this office network was awarded in early 2006 to Mapeley, and the offices are currently being leased and fitted out for use by IPS.

These offices will open in 2007 and the network will subsequently be used for the National Identity Scheme. Where the network of enrolment centres needs to be further expanded, we will first seek to use high street offices that are already used by central and local government. We will also look at options for the private sector providing outlets and any contracts will be tendered as appropriate." [8]

On March 8, in reponse to Liberal Democract MP Nicholas Clegg [9] on what estimate he had made of the costs of rolling out biometric readers for identity cards across the public services, John Reid, Labour MP and Secretary of State, [10] answered

"Until further detailed work with both public and private sector organisations during the preparation and initial rollout of the Identity Card Scheme are complete, it is not possible to provide the precise mix of services each organisation may require and thus, it is not possible to provide a final estimate of the number and total cost of biometric readers across the public services at this stage."

On March 7, in answer to Mark Hoban MP on what restrictions the Secretary of State planned to impose on the purchase of identity card readers by (a) public and (b) private sector organisations, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State replied

"The Home Office will not place any restrictions on the purchase of card readers as such restrictions would not be of any consequence to the effective management of identity checking services provided by the National Identity Scheme. Only organisations accredited by the Identity and Passport Service will be provided with the necessary digital certificates to enable their readers to verify identity against information held on the National Identity Register. Such digital certificates allow for revocation of such services should the reader be stolen or the service misused."

On March 6th, in response to Lady Hermon, Ulster Unionist MP, [11] as regards what discussions Peter Hain, Labour MP and Secretary of State for the Northern Ireland Office [12] had with the Home Office in relation to the operation of the national identity card scheme in Northern Ireland; and what estimate he had made of the resources needed to operate the scheme in Northern Ireland, Peter Hain stated that

"I have not made any assessment of the likely cost of implementing the scheme in Northern Ireland because the cost of issuing ID cards along with passports is, as an excepted matter, a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. The Northern Ireland Office and the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister are represented at official level on interdepartmental groups convened by the Home Office to look at identity issues and, in particular, the role of ID cards. The decision about whether, and if so how, ID cards are to be used in the provisions of services in Northern Ireland will be a matter for a future Northern Ireland Executive following restoration."

On March 5th, in reponse to Liberal Democract MP Nicholas Clegg [13]on the estimate Home secretary and Labour MP John Reid [14] had made of the likely annual number of identity checks that will be carried out for accredited organisations (a) once the National Identity Register is operational and (b) once entry onto the National Identity Register is compulsory, the Home Secretary answered

"Until further detailed work with potential user organisations during the preparation and initial rollout of the National Identity Card Scheme are complete, it is not possible to provide a total number of likely verification transactions that will be used by public and private sector organisations in the first years of the scheme."

On the same day, Nicholas Clegg further asked John Reid whether his plans to offset the costs of the National Identity Register with fee revenue include (a) fees for biometric immigration documents, (b) fees for applications for an identity card, (c) accreditation fees paid by organisations wishing to verify identities via the National Identity Register and (d) fees paid by accredited organisations to verify individual identities

"It is intended that the cost of the National Identity Scheme, which includes the National Identity Register, will be primarily funded by fee revenue from the products and services that arise from the scheme, such as those from the applications to be entered in the register when obtaining a designated document, those from the issue of identity cards or those from the provision of identity checking services."

On March 2, Joan Ryan MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of Stateanswered to Ulster Unionist MP Lady Hermon [15]on a question relative to the application of the ID card to Ireland

"The Belfast (Good Friday Agreement) confirmed that all the peoples of Northern Ireland had the right to identify themselves as Irish, British or both, as they chose. As such, those Irish nationals who wish to identify as a dual national may choose to obtain a British passport and, in that event, would be issued with an identity card as well. The status and entitlements of those who choose not to obtain a British passport, whether they identify as Irish, British or both will remain unchanged.However, it is the Government's policy t