By Andy McCue, 16 June 2005 12:35
NEWS Home Secretary Charles Clarke has accused critics of the government's controversial ID cards plan of running a "media scare campaign".
Speaking in an interview on Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Clarke dismissed claims by the London School of Economics that the actual unit cost of each ID card could be as high as £300 instead of the £93 figure put forward by the government.
"It's a completely nonsense figure. They are running a media campaign with scare stories of this type which is very difficult for us to deal with," he said.
Clarke maintained the government's figures in the ID cards regulatory impact assessment are not "unreasonable" but was unable to give any indication of how much UK citizens will actually be charged for the privilege of carrying an ID card.
"The actual charging regime is something we will come to at the point of introducing the card," he said.
Responding to the US' decision to delay the deadline for the introduction of European travellers needing biometric passports in order to enter the US, Clarke said the plan was not being kicked into touch but just delayed to ensure all countries use the same standards.
"This kind of international biometric data works best if it is internationally consistent," he said.
The Home Office has to date failed to respond to repeated requests to provide answers to the concerns raised by silicon.com's ID Cards on Trial campaign about the cost, scope and technological aspects of the ID cards scheme.
Comments
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1. anonymous
This is a red herring - surely it's the principle, not the cost, that worries people.
He thinks if the cost is shown to be 'reasonable' then confidence will go back up.
Concentrating solely on the cost is a distraction from the other aspects.
2. Richard
Oh dear, who should we trust?
A government minister, member of Her Majesty's Privy Council: Or a report from an institution (formerly) better known for its revolting students?
Interesting times!
3. Karen Challinor
As opposed to the media scare campaign sponsored by the government which is liberally spattered with buzz phrases such as antiterrorism and prevention of ID theft ?
4. anonymous
Dear Mr. Clarke, I accept your £93 limit on an ID card cost.
However, considering past government issued assurances about cost and effectiveness, I suggest that, in a similar manner to the requirements of Lloyds-of-London, all the MP's voting for this, and the Labour party organisation should thus be willing to commit all their own and their immediate families current, and future assets, corporate/business and personal, including all those held in tax shelterd and 'charity' status funds as well as pensions above the basic UK pension, to paying for any over-run of costs above that £93 figure.
If you, and the government truly believe the £93 costing, then where is the problem
5. anonymous
It's good to see Charles Clark squirm. The idea that he of all people is subject to unfair media scare stories is laughable. Anything that can be done to prevent this oppressive government getting away with these massive invasions of our liberty and privacy has to be a good thing. He and this government must be stopped.
Blair has admitted that he knows practically nothing about IT and it is well known that he does not use a personal computer. He must rate as one of the least qualified people to be backing the ID card scheme. He perhaps knows less about technology than he knew about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.
6. Br ian Sharp
Anyone got an email address for Charles Clarke, so we can tell him personally what we think? Why should he hide away from his critics?