Britons' ID cards 'to be delayed'
A sample ID card
Identity cards are opposed by the Tories and Lib Dems
Plans for a wider rollout of identity cards to British nationals appear to have been delayed for two years.
Foreign nationals will have ID cards this year and it was intended to introduce them in "significant volumes" for UK citizens from 2010.
But documents leaked to the Tories suggest it has been put back to 2012.
The Tories say the ID card scheme is "in the intensive care ward" but the government said the plan had always been to introduce them "incrementally".
When he was prime minister, Tony Blair promised to legislate to make it compulsory for all Britons to have - but not to carry - an ID card.
Biometric cards
But the £5.6bn scheme has met fierce criticism from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats on cost, effectiveness and civil liberties grounds.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg has said he would take part in a campaign of civil disobedience if legislation is passed.
Home Office documents leaked to the Conservatives set out an illustrated timeline for introducing biometric ID cards.
I think the reality is just beginning to bite ministers on this
Damian Green
Shadow immigration minister
It includes the "Borders Phase I" introduction of ID cards for foreign nationals, which will begin later this year.
Then it indicates that people in positions of trust - like security guards - will be issued with cards in 2009.
But the "Borders Phase II" wider rollout to all UK citizens will not begin until 2012, the document says.
'Reality intruding'
BBC political correspondent James Landale said the implication was the controversial issue had been "kicked well into the long grass", beyond the next general election.
Shadow immigration minister Damian Green told the BBC: "It's clear that there are enormous practical difficulties in putting 50 different pieces of personal information including addresses of 60 million British citizens plus lots of foreigners into a single database.
We have always said that the scheme will be rolled out incrementally
Identity and Passport Service spokesman
"I think the reality is just beginning to bite ministers on this, so this delay is the first sign of reality intruding, let's hope there are more to come."
But an Identity and Passport Service spokesman replied: "We do not comment on leaked documents."
He added: "We have always said that the scheme will be rolled out incrementally.
"As stated in the Strategic Plan for the National Identity Scheme published in December 2006, we will begin issuing ID cards for foreign nationals this year, and the first ID cards for British citizens in 2009."
He said they would make it easier for businesses and government to check identities "securely, conveniently and efficiently".
But he said the date for introducing cards with fingerprints "in line with international developments in passport security" was "under consideration" and further announcements would be made in due course.
There have been reports that Gordon Brown had cooled on the idea of compulsory ID cards for UK citizens, saying it was only an "option" that would be the subject of a Parliamentary vote.
Last week immigration minister Liam Byrne said the government remained enthusiastic about ID cards.作者: bill 时间: 2008-1-23 00:39
