By Nick Heath, 25 September 2008 11:55
NEWS
The first UK ID cards are set to be unveiled today.
The Home Office will show off the design of the card which will be issued to foreign nationals coming to the UK from November 2008.
The first UK citizens to get the cards as part of the controversial scheme will be airport workers from 2009, followed by young people in 2010 and the rest of the population in 2011/12.
The cards, expected to cost about £30, are fitted with a chip containing scans of a facial photograph, two fingerprints and identity information.
People who fail to provide biometric scans for ID cards face penalties of up to £1,000.
These first generation of cards for foreign nationals will be produced by the UK Border Agency, while the Identity and Passport Service is in the process of awarding contracts to five companies short-listed to produce cards for UK citizens.
The Conservatives have repeatedly stated they will scrap ID cards if the party is returned to power in the next election, leading to some companies withdrawing from the scheme's procurement process.
Doubts have also been raised about its reliance on fingerprints, after the independent Biometrics Assurance Group said it would struggle to get the necessary clear prints from the four million people in Britain aged over 75.
Comments
There are 5 comments. Join the discussion
1. Karen Challinor
roll on 2010, the absolute last year labour can defer an election to
and I'm still not having one
2. bali
i will not be paying £30 for one of these if the government wants everyone to have one of these they should give them to us for free,
3. misceng
To bali - It does not matter whether you get one or not your taxes will still help pay the costs of the scheme. If they are provided free at the point of creation then it just means the tax bill will be a bit higher.
4. Anonymous
It's a funny looking thing, I don't like the card much either!
5. CHosken
£1,000 is a small price to pay for one's freedom from the Doomsday database. Best thing everyone can do is to ensure they vote Labour OUT at the next election; because if they don't go, then you can say goodbye to the last vestiges of British freedom....that same freedom which was fought for, in two World wars. C'mon folks, get wise........oppose this abominable thing!