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| Version 13 | Version 14 |
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| Rethink on identity cards plans | Rethink on identity cards plans |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The government has set out changes to its planned identity scheme - including allowing people to use passports or driving licences instead of ID cards. | The government has set out changes to its planned identity scheme - including allowing people to use passports or driving licences instead of ID cards. |
| Most people will not now have to give their fingerprints when getting a passport until 2011/12 - three years later than had previously been planned. | Most people will not now have to give their fingerprints when getting a passport until 2011/12 - three years later than had previously been planned. |
| And plans to force passport applicants to get an ID card have been dropped. | And plans to force passport applicants to get an ID card have been dropped. |
| The exception will be airport and other workers in security-sensitive jobs who will need an ID card from 2009. | The exception will be airport and other workers in security-sensitive jobs who will need an ID card from 2009. |
| ID CARDS TIMETABLE 2008 - Some non-EU nationals will have to get them2009 - Compulsory for 200,000 UK citizens and EU nationals who work in 'sensitive' airport jobs2010 - Voluntary scheme for students2011/12 - Biometric passports issued, applicants can choose to get ID card2017 - Full roll-out of identity cards In full: Smith's ID speechQ&A: Identity card plans | ID CARDS TIMETABLE 2008 - Some non-EU nationals will have to get them2009 - Compulsory for 200,000 UK citizens and EU nationals who work in 'sensitive' airport jobs2010 - Voluntary scheme for students2011/12 - Biometric passports issued, applicants can choose to get ID card2017 - Full roll-out of identity cards In full: Smith's ID speechQ&A: Identity card plans |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said students would also be encouraged to get identity cards from 2010, as part of plans to let "consumer demand" drive take-up. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said students would also be encouraged to get identity cards from 2010, as part of plans to let "consumer demand" drive take-up. |
| Ms Smith confirmed that some non-EU migrants applying for leave to enter or remain in the UK, such as students or spouses, will need ID cards from November. | Ms Smith confirmed that some non-EU migrants applying for leave to enter or remain in the UK, such as students or spouses, will need ID cards from November. |
| The aim is that by 2015, 90% of foreign nationals will have identity cards, she added. | The aim is that by 2015, 90% of foreign nationals will have identity cards, she added. |
| The announcement was branded a "complete U-turn" by Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne - but anti-ID card campaigners warned the government was trying to introduce the scheme by stealth. | The announcement was branded a "complete U-turn" by Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne - but anti-ID card campaigners warned the government was trying to introduce the scheme by stealth. |
| The government had previously planned to take biometrics - including all 10 fingerprints and iris scans - of everyone applying for a new passport from 2008. | The government had previously planned to take biometrics - including all 10 fingerprints and iris scans - of everyone applying for a new passport from 2008. |
| 'Public acceptance' | 'Public acceptance' |
| The proposal had been that from January 2010 everyone getting, or renewing, a passport would have to get an identity card in addition to a passport. | The proposal had been that from January 2010 everyone getting, or renewing, a passport would have to get an identity card in addition to a passport. |
| And ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair had said that a major plank of Labour's next election manifesto would be a bill to make it compulsory for everyone, irrespective of whether they get a passport or not, to get an ID card. | And ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair had said that a major plank of Labour's next election manifesto would be a bill to make it compulsory for everyone, irrespective of whether they get a passport or not, to get an ID card. |
| To engage consumers' hearts and minds on the scale required, enrolment and any tokens should be provided free of charge Sir James Crosby class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7281695.stm">ID cards 'must be free' class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7280971.stm">Student views on ID cards | |
| But those timetables have slipped, the proposed biometric data cut back to just fingerprints and not mention made of any foreseeable plans to make identity cards compulsory. | But those timetables have slipped, the proposed biometric data cut back to just fingerprints and not mention made of any foreseeable plans to make identity cards compulsory. |
| "While there are big advantages to making ID cards as widespread as possible, we need to be clear there is public acceptance," Ms Smith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "While there are big advantages to making ID cards as widespread as possible, we need to be clear there is public acceptance," Ms Smith told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Ms Smith said that information on the national identity register would not be held on a single, central database for security reasons. | Ms Smith said that information on the national identity register would not be held on a single, central database for security reasons. |
| Pricing call | |
| Ms Smith said she expected the "full roll-out" of ID cards would happen by 2017. | Ms Smith said she expected the "full roll-out" of ID cards would happen by 2017. |
| Private firms will be encouraged to set-up "biometric enrolment centres" where passport and ID card applicants will be fingerprinted. | Private firms will be encouraged to set-up "biometric enrolment centres" where passport and ID card applicants will be fingerprinted. |
| In a speech in London, Ms "endorsed" the findings of Sir James Crosby - whose report on working with the private sector on ID cards recommended a more consumer-driven approach. | |
| Biometric technology guide | |
| But the home office rejected one of Sir James' key recommendations - that ID cards should be free of charge. | |
| The report says: "To engage consumers' hearts and minds on the scale required, enrolment and any tokens should be provided free of charge." | |
| A home office spokesman said the government charged for other forms of ID such as driving licences and passports and it though the planned charge of £30 for an ID card was "fair". | |
| 'Dangerous core' | 'Dangerous core' |
| 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'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. |
| Critics oppose the cards on cost, effectiveness and civil liberty grounds. | Critics oppose the cards on cost, effectiveness and civil liberty grounds. |
| Whether you volunteer or are coerced onto the ID database, there's no way back - you'll be monitored for life Phil BoothNO2ID campaign | Whether you volunteer or are coerced onto the ID database, there's no way back - you'll be monitored for life Phil BoothNO2ID campaign |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "The government may have removed the highly visible element but they have still left the dangerous core of this project. | Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "The government may have removed the highly visible element but they have still left the dangerous core of this project. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "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." |
| Phil Booth, of campaign group NO2ID dismissed Ms Smith's latest announcement as a "marketing exercise" designed to introduce ID cards by stealth. | Phil Booth, of campaign group NO2ID dismissed Ms Smith's latest announcement as a "marketing exercise" designed to introduce ID cards by stealth. |
| "Whether you volunteer or are coerced onto the ID database, there's no way back. You'll be monitored for life. That's why the government is targeting students and young people, to get them on before they realise what's happening," he said. | "Whether you volunteer or are coerced onto the ID database, there's no way back. You'll be monitored for life. That's why the government is targeting students and young people, to get them on before they realise what's happening," he said. |
| 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. |
| The UK's main aviation trade union, Unite, has also criticised the plans, which it said could discriminate against some of its members who already have to undergo "vigorous pre-employment checks". | The UK's main aviation trade union, Unite, has also criticised the plans, which it said could discriminate against some of its members who already have to undergo "vigorous pre-employment checks". |
| Are you an airport worker or a student? Are you a non-EU migrant? How do you feel about carrying an identity card? Send us your comments using the post form below: | Are you an airport worker or a student? Are you a non-EU migrant? How do you feel about carrying an identity card? Send us your comments using the post form below: |