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 be offered them. |
| 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." |
|
|
| Are you an airport worker or a student? How do you feel about carrying an identity card? Send us your comments using the post form below: |
| |
