The A to Z of ID cards

W is for Why now?

The government argues that the time is right to introduce the National Identity Scheme for a number of reasons.

It claims that it's building on the back of recent advances in biometric technology that mean it is possible to build a "truly effective and secure scheme".

It points to similar schemes around the world to show that biometrics have come of age, citing the US-Visit fingerprint checks used by US immigration at major ports, and moves across the EU to incorporate both fingerprint and facial biometrics in passports.