By Andy McCue, 23 November 2004 14:55
NEWS Legislation for national ID cards and the UK's version of the FBI were the key planks of the Queen's Speech today, which promised "security for all".
Both were widely expected to be included and the government will now press on to push both through Parliament before the next general election. The Queen's Speech is read by the Queen but written by the government and it sets out the legislative agenda for the next session of Parliament.
Speaking in the House of Lords, the Queen said: "My government recognises that we live in a time of global uncertainty with an increased threat from international terrorism and organised crime. Measures to extend opportunity will be accompanied by legislation to increase security for all."
The ID card scheme proposed by the Home Office will see the introduction of a standalone ID card containing biometric information such as iris scans, fingerprints and a facial scan by 2008. The £15 card will be mandatory and will be issued alongside all new and renewal passport applications, the cost of which will also rise to £85.
More significantly, a vast database of UK citizens' data called the National Identity Register will be created to underpin the ID card scheme. For the low down on ID cards read the silicon.com Cheat Sheet here.
But concern has been raised by technology industry experts about the pace and scale of such a high-profile and costly project as the £3bn ID card scheme, which would become the biggest IT project ever undertaken by the government.
Mark Blowers, senior research director at analyst firm Butler Group, said there are still significant questions about the rejection rates and read accuracy of some biometric technologies.
"There are still a number of issues which have the potential to derail David Blunkett's plans to tackle crime and terrorism," he said in a statement.
In the Queen's Speech the government also formally announced its intention to introduce legislation to establish the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), which has been compared to the FBI. The UK's computer crime squad, the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit, will be one of the law enforcement agencies that will play a role in SOCA.
Comments
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1. Duane S Phillips
Who was it that said "The first casualty of war is the truth". I think this government it messing with the truth about why they want these id card. They certainly won't stop terrorism. "Today I shall be a suicide bomber. Oh damn I've got an id card, better not." If I must have one then fair enough but I dont see why I should pay for one. Another stealth tax me thinks.
2. Dick Winchester
Another huge opportunity for a usually foreign owned set of tech companies to cock something up on a major scale and rip off the UK tax payer!
3. Karen Challinor
I wonder if there are any parties I can vote for that will drop this before too much money gets wasted on it
4. US citizen
Just don't farm the IT work outside the UK or there will be no real security in these cards,
A US Opinion
5. Mark SPLINTER
The Millennium Dome had more chance of success and didn't cost $3bn. I can't believe there is less outcry over the cost of this ID fiasco, how many nurses and schools etc etc etc.
Give me three billion and see what happens. Sheesh. Why is it only a few disgruntled fathers that seem to actually DO any terrorism in england? I don't even believe terrorists exist any more, let alone terrorists who would oppose ID cards...
Not to mention the fact that thousands will burn their application form and there's no space in the underfunded jails.
6. Ray Hindle
So ID cards come into use. Someone does not have theirs on them when challenged, sounds realistic? What do the powers that be then intend to do? Lock them up until someone can vouch for them? The cells will be full up with little old ladies who have difficulty finding even their bus pass! So it is decided that the police take their name and address and give them 24 hours to produce their ID at the local police station, sound reasonable? What sort of terrorist is going to give their real name and address? Even if they are stupid enough to do so, who, other than David Blunkett, is stupid enough to think they are actually going to report to the police? Once again the five "P's" have been ignored, PERFECT PLANNING PREVENTS POOR PERFORMANCE!