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Minister to update ID card plans Minister to update ID card plans
(about 3 hours later)
The home secretary is to outline the next stage in the controversial rollout of identity cards. Non-EU migrants, baggage handlers and students will be the first to receive identity cards, the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will announce later.
Jacqui Smith is expected to announce which non-EU workers will be the first to be issued with ID cards, which link personal data to a fingerprint. Ms Smith will tell the Commons that foreign national workers from outside the European Union will be the first to be issued with cards this year.
She will also set out plans to issue cards to 100,000 airport staff, although the widespread issue of cards will not start until 2009. In 2009, cards will be issued to up to 100,000 airport workers, while in 2010, students will start receiving theirs.
Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are opposed to ID cards.Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are opposed to ID cards.
The parties oppose the cards on cost, effectiveness and civil liberty grounds. Receptive minds
The cards will be compulsory for foreign nationals and those working airside in Britain's airports, such as baggage handlers and cabin crew.
The rollout to students, is, according to BBC political reporter Norman Smith, part of a government strategy to offer cards to those most willing to accept them.
He says the thinking is that younger people will be more receptive to carry ID cards, because they will make it easier to open a bank account.
One suggestion is that they could be used instead of a passport for travel within the European Union. Such a scheme already exists for most other EU citizens.
Fingerprint tells all
The government's plans for ID cards, linking personal data to a fingerprint, have been plagued by technical delays, budget overspend and political controversy.
The government claims identity cards will boost security, tackle identity fraud and prevent illegal immigration.The government claims identity cards will boost security, tackle identity fraud and prevent illegal immigration.
But Ms Smith is expected to reiterate that the government has no plans to make carrying the cards compulsory - although compelling all citizens to have a card would require further legislation. Critics oppose the cards on cost, effectiveness and civil liberty grounds.
High-risk areas Government sources have suggested that the next groups to be offered ID cards will be those working in sensitive roles or locations.
It is expected foreign national workers from outside the European Union will be the first to be issued with cards later this year. It is thought these could include people not just with security related jobs, but also those involved in caring for children.
The Border and Immigration Agency will issue them to those applying for visas, which historically have been most at risk of abuse.
The Identity and Passport Service will issue the first cards to those working in high-risk areas, such as airports.
The airport operator BAA has been in talks with ministers about how to rollout the cards to baggage handlers and airline staff.
The national identity register will be a severe threat to our security and a real target for criminals, hackers and terrorists Shadow home secretary David Davis
But some security experts stress that those convicted of terrorism in recent years were never involved with identity fraud.But some security experts stress that those convicted of terrorism in recent years were never involved with identity fraud.
The national identity register will be a severe threat to our security and a real target for criminals, hackers and terrorists Shadow home secretary David Davis
Prime Minister Gordon Brown hinted earlier this year that the scheme may not be compulsory for UK nationals but suggestions of a U-turn were denied.Prime Minister Gordon Brown hinted earlier this year that the scheme may not be compulsory for UK nationals but suggestions of a U-turn were denied.
Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who introduced the initial identity card scheme, has previously said it would not work unless everyone had to have a card.Former Home Secretary David Blunkett, who introduced the initial identity card scheme, has previously said it would not work unless everyone had to have a card.
Shadow home secretary David Davis expressed concern about having an identity card database.Shadow home secretary David Davis expressed concern about having an identity card database.
"The national identity register, which will contain dozens of personal details of every adult in this country in one place, will be a severe threat to our security and a real target for criminals, hackers and terrorists," he said."The national identity register, which will contain dozens of personal details of every adult in this country in one place, will be a severe threat to our security and a real target for criminals, hackers and terrorists," he said.
"This is before you take the government's legendary inability to handle people's data securely into account.""This is before you take the government's legendary inability to handle people's data securely into account."