Forged ID cards won't work, insists government

Forged identity cards will be "ineffective" because they won't be able to be verified through the central identity database, the government has insisted.

Earlier this month former MI5 chief Dame Stella Rimington said nobody in the security services would be pushing for the cards.

She warned that if the cards could be forged they would be rendered "absolutely useless".

But now Home Office minister Andy Burnham has highlighted that the anti-forgery technologies used in the cards would make attempts to fake them a waste of time.

In a written response to questions from MPs he said: "The identity cards scheme and the identity card itself are being designed to prevent the successful production and use of forged identity cards."

He said the ID card will be supported by an individual's record on the National Identity Register.

Burnham explained: "The ability to either confirm the validity of the card or verify information electronically against the register using secure technologies means that forged cards will be ineffective as they will be unable to make a connection to a valid record on the register."

He added that the physical characteristics of the card will "significantly reduce the viability of creating counterfeit or modified cards for simple visual verification".

He also revealed the controversial programme will reach its next Gateway Review in early 2006. Last week the Home Office attracted criticism for keeping secretthe results of the reviews so far.