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06/11/2008
Airport ID Scheme Unveiled
Plans for two UK airports to test the Government's new controversial ID card scheme, were announced today.
Under the Home Office's plans applicants will have all 10 fingerprints and their faces scanned. The data will then be passed to the Identity and Passport Service to be stored on new, computerised National Identity Register.
Manchester and London City airports are to be the first to issue the biometric cards - which will be rolled out during an 18-month period - a Home Office spokesman confirmed.
The cards will be available for all from 2012, but Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "Regularly have people coming up to me and saying they don't want to wait that long."
It is understood the cards issued to workers will be free during the evaluation period. However, they are expected to cost £30 per person, which airport unions have objected to.
In a speech to the Social Market foundation Ms Smith said the scheme - previously estimated at £4.5 billion, but now closer to £50 billion - would be issued on a voluntary basis to young people from 2010, but to the rest of the public on 2012.
She said: "But I believe there is a demand, now, for cards - and as I go round the country I regularly have people coming up to me and saying they don't want to wait that long.
"I now want to put that to the test and find a way to allow those people who want a card sooner to be able to pre-register their interest as early as the first few months of next year."
Phil Booth, of the NO2ID campaign said: "The ink is barely dry on the first minor contracts for the ID scheme and already costs are spiralling. Yet of course these figures are just a fraction of the real cost.
"There are billions to be buried in other departments' budgets. The cost to citizens and to business of cooperating with the surveillance state will be billions more."
The plans will include shops, private firms and the Royal Mail bidding for contracts to fingerprint millions of people for identity cards.
Mr Booth also warned private companies were unlikely to be interested in bidding for contracts which would be scrapped if Labour loses the next general election.
He added: "The Government is selling a pig in a poke. What company is going embarrass itself to the tune of millions for a contract that that everyone outside the Home Office itself knows will be cancelled by a new administration?"
(JM)
Under the Home Office's plans applicants will have all 10 fingerprints and their faces scanned. The data will then be passed to the Identity and Passport Service to be stored on new, computerised National Identity Register.
Manchester and London City airports are to be the first to issue the biometric cards - which will be rolled out during an 18-month period - a Home Office spokesman confirmed.
The cards will be available for all from 2012, but Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "Regularly have people coming up to me and saying they don't want to wait that long."
It is understood the cards issued to workers will be free during the evaluation period. However, they are expected to cost £30 per person, which airport unions have objected to.
In a speech to the Social Market foundation Ms Smith said the scheme - previously estimated at £4.5 billion, but now closer to £50 billion - would be issued on a voluntary basis to young people from 2010, but to the rest of the public on 2012.
She said: "But I believe there is a demand, now, for cards - and as I go round the country I regularly have people coming up to me and saying they don't want to wait that long.
"I now want to put that to the test and find a way to allow those people who want a card sooner to be able to pre-register their interest as early as the first few months of next year."
Phil Booth, of the NO2ID campaign said: "The ink is barely dry on the first minor contracts for the ID scheme and already costs are spiralling. Yet of course these figures are just a fraction of the real cost.
"There are billions to be buried in other departments' budgets. The cost to citizens and to business of cooperating with the surveillance state will be billions more."
The plans will include shops, private firms and the Royal Mail bidding for contracts to fingerprint millions of people for identity cards.
Mr Booth also warned private companies were unlikely to be interested in bidding for contracts which would be scrapped if Labour loses the next general election.
He added: "The Government is selling a pig in a poke. What company is going embarrass itself to the tune of millions for a contract that that everyone outside the Home Office itself knows will be cancelled by a new administration?"
(JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.
