By Steve Ranger, 21 April 2006 13:20
NEWS
The new Identity and Passport Service will spend £56m on setting up the controversial ID cards project this year.
The IPS was created on 1 April, bringing together the Home Office ID cards programme and the UK Passport Service to issue passports, ID cards and other biometric identification documents.
According to the new agency's business plan, it spent £25m on the ID card "set-up" in 2005/06 and has a budget of £56m in 2006/07 as the project takes shape.
The document also reveals the priorities for the agency over the next 10 years.
Short-term plans include completing the rollout of the new ePassport (see here for photos) with a biometric chip during the third quarter of 2006.
In the fourth quarter of this year, 600,000 first-time adult passport applicants will be required to attend a personal appointment at one of a new network of 70 offices to prove their identity.
A facial recognition system will be rolled out to all IPS Regional Fraud Intelligence Units by the end of 2006.
The IPS said it will trial taking fingerprints next year as a second passport biometric.
It said: "We anticipate piloting the recording of fingerprints as a second biometric from volunteers in late 2007." This will be followed by the introduction of a UK passport with both facial and fingerprint biometrics.
Following the launch of biometric passports will be the biometric residence passports, followed by the rollout of the second biometric passport and then finally the ID cards themselves, due in 2008/09.
A supplier reshuffle is also on the way as a result of the ID cards scheme, the agency said: "Over the next few years IPS' existing partnership arrangements with service providers will continue. However, over the life of this plan, contracts with service providers will be subject to re-tender before planned contract expiry dates.
"The change programme will involve large-scale procurements from 2006 to obtain support to help build the infrastructure and deliver the services required to operate the National Identity Scheme. Any changes to existing contracts as a result of these procurements will be negotiated separately as necessary."
Comments
There are 7 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
A sample of recent headlines:
"ID card spending doubles to £56m"
"NAO report set to criticise NHS IT refresh"
"Police go ahead with £367m national intelligence system"
"Gazprom issues threat to EU gas supply"
"Ministers plan two-speed pensions reform"
As a voter and tax payer, I only wish there were a clause in our democratic contract that allowed a new election be triggered in the event of government programmes leading to huge losses and delays and for any associated newly-assigned ministerial powers to be rescinded. If we were really lucky, there'd be an automatic income tax reduction to recompense for the financial losses incurred. I wonder if that would focus minds more on getting a cohesive strategy thought out that benefits the voters appropriately, before ploughing into another grand (doomed) plan.
With any luck, the ID card fiasco will be another dog's breakfast that can be dumped by the incoming party at the next election. If the NHS is anything to go by, contracts will be equally tough and result in private companies ultimately pulling the plug on funding these initiatives with their own capital.
My only hope is that we, the electorate, are articulate and loud enough to make it clear that it has to go prior to and at the next election.
2. Roger Huffadine
What a crap design - I just looked at photo 2 and they have coated copper crossing coated copper wires. I have travelled a fair bit in my time and there are countries where you keep your passport in your trouser pocket all the time. After several months the heat and humidity make the passport look as if it has been through a mangle. This wire crossing wire design is not going to last 10 years in the pocket of a frequent traveller. The wires will probably short and the stress points, in the laminate, around the chip will fracture.
Who pays for the replacement where the failure is due to a crap design?
3. Karen Challinor
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own."
- Quote from the TV series "The Prisoner"
I'm thinking of having it framed and sent to Mr Blair, what do you think ?
4. Silas Denyer
We need recall elections. In California, for instance, if you think the Governor is doing a bad work, and if enough of you sign the petition, a referendum can be held to decide whether to hold a full set of elections - in effect the population can sack the CEO.
Now _that_ would focus a few minds in Whitehall...
5. anonymous
I suppose we, the long suffering British public will be paying through the nose for all of this as usual.
and no money back when it all goes "tits up"
How about a few re-runs of the old 1960's TV progs like the Prisoner and the one with Edward Woodward, can't remember if it was BBC or ITV.
Might wake a few people up to what life in Britain could be like.
6. Karen Challinor
"I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own."
- Quote from the TV series "The Prisoner"
I'm thinking of having it framed and sent to Mr Blair, what do you think ?
7. David Loud An Proud...Erm Smith, No Honestly..Not
None of this I.D thing has anything with the claimed reasons put forward by our Government.......... it's all about you being accountable and more importantly identifyable to the same Government so they can 'Hunt You Down' when you start kicking off about such things as the price of petrol and not having a job....... What a nasty world we live in...... I am fast running out of trust for any that wish to Govern this country and when the revolution comes people.... don't forget it will be you up first against the wall.... why(?) because we will let them and they will have our details.... I.D cards, in the words of 'Jim Royal' 'My Arse'