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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Shops may take ID card biometrics | Shops may take ID card biometrics |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Supermarkets could be asked to take people's fingerprints as part of the government's identity card scheme. | Supermarkets could be asked to take people's fingerprints as part of the government's identity card scheme. |
| The Home Office is talking to retailers and the Post Office about setting up booths to gather biometric data. | The Home Office is talking to retailers and the Post Office about setting up booths to gather biometric data. |
| It comes as Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced ID cards would be issued to airside workers at Manchester and London City airport from late 2009. | It comes as Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced ID cards would be issued to airside workers at Manchester and London City airport from late 2009. |
| The Home Office denied the 18-month trial was a retreat on plans to issue all 200,000 airside workers with cards. | The Home Office denied the 18-month trial was a retreat on plans to issue all 200,000 airside workers with cards. |
| "We made it clear when we published the Delivery Plan in March 2008 that ID cards for critical workers would be 'starting in the second half of 2009' and we are on track to meet this commitment," a Home Office spokesman said. | "We made it clear when we published the Delivery Plan in March 2008 that ID cards for critical workers would be 'starting in the second half of 2009' and we are on track to meet this commitment," a Home Office spokesman said. |
| The spokesman said it was not a pilot project as ID cards would definitely be issued to the remaining airside workers in due course, as a precursor to a wider roll-out to the rest of the population. | The spokesman said it was not a pilot project as ID cards would definitely be issued to the remaining airside workers in due course, as a precursor to a wider roll-out to the rest of the population. |
| But campaigners NO2ID said it was a "transparent attempt to save ministerial face" after anger from airport unions and airline bosses. | But campaigners NO2ID said it was a "transparent attempt to save ministerial face" after anger from airport unions and airline bosses. |
| Voluntary system | Voluntary system |
| The Unite union, which represents airport workers, has said staff are already extensively vetted before being given airside passes. | The Unite union, which represents airport workers, has said staff are already extensively vetted before being given airside passes. |
| We are seeing a rather transparent attempt, I think, to save some ministerial face Phil Booth, No 2 ID campaign Send us your comments | We are seeing a rather transparent attempt, I think, to save some ministerial face Phil Booth, No 2 ID campaign Send us your comments |
| Airport unions have been resisting the scheme, saying workers would have to pay £30 for a card to do their jobs. | Airport unions have been resisting the scheme, saying workers would have to pay £30 for a card to do their jobs. |
| However, it is understood that the cards would be issued free during the evaluation period. | However, it is understood that the cards would be issued free during the evaluation period. |
| Airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and EasyJet, also spoke out against the plan, saying it was "unjustified" and would not improve security. | Airlines including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and EasyJet, also spoke out against the plan, saying it was "unjustified" and would not improve security. |
| On plans to involve retailers and the Post Office in the ID cards scheme, a spokesman said it would be "more convenient" for people than the government's original plan to set up enrolment centres in large population centres. | On plans to involve retailers and the Post Office in the ID cards scheme, a spokesman said it would be "more convenient" for people than the government's original plan to set up enrolment centres in large population centres. |
| The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) would continue to carry out enrolment at its offices but a spokesman said it also wanted to "drive down costs using market forces and competition" and was talking to a "range of high street retailers and other organisations". | The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) would continue to carry out enrolment at its offices but a spokesman said it also wanted to "drive down costs using market forces and competition" and was talking to a "range of high street retailers and other organisations". |
| Data security | Data security |
| He stressed that security of data would remain the "utmost priority". | He stressed that security of data would remain the "utmost priority". |
| "Any third party involved in enrolment would be accredited and audited to ensure they meet and continue to meet robust and strictly administered security standards. | "Any third party involved in enrolment would be accredited and audited to ensure they meet and continue to meet robust and strictly administered security standards. |
| "System design standards will ensure that no data is stored locally and that all data is transmitted directly to IPS using a secure communications link. In addition all locations and personnel will be subject to strict security standards set by IPS." | "System design standards will ensure that no data is stored locally and that all data is transmitted directly to IPS using a secure communications link. In addition all locations and personnel will be subject to strict security standards set by IPS." |
| But Phil Booth, national coordinator of the NO2ID campaign, said the government would struggle to find private firms willing to bid for the ID card contract. | But Phil Booth, national coordinator of the NO2ID campaign, said the government would struggle to find private firms willing to bid for the ID card contract. |
| "The government is selling a pig in a poke. What company is going embarrass itself to the tune of millions for a contract that everyone outside the Home Office itself knows will be cancelled by a new administration?" he said. | "The government is selling a pig in a poke. What company is going embarrass itself to the tune of millions for a contract that everyone outside the Home Office itself knows will be cancelled by a new administration?" he said. |
| 'Bullying' claim | 'Bullying' claim |
| He also claimed the government had performed a "complete roll-back" by limiting the trial to two airports. | He also claimed the government had performed a "complete roll-back" by limiting the trial to two airports. |
| "We are seeing a rather transparent attempt, I think, to save some ministerial face," he said. | "We are seeing a rather transparent attempt, I think, to save some ministerial face," he said. |
| "The unions and the industry are clearly opposed to this and if the government were to try to force this on the 200,000 airside workers they had previously claimed then they would find themselves either in court or facing industrial action." | "The unions and the industry are clearly opposed to this and if the government were to try to force this on the 200,000 airside workers they had previously claimed then they would find themselves either in court or facing industrial action." |
| He accused the home secretary of "bullying" workers to join a scheme which was less stringent than existing airport vetting rules. | He accused the home secretary of "bullying" workers to join a scheme which was less stringent than existing airport vetting rules. |
| 'Waste of money' | |
| Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve, for the Conservatives, said the decision to trial ID cards at just two airports was "clearly a climbdown" and "just a gimmick" aimed at selling the scheme to the public. | |
| He told BBC News the Tories would axe the whole scheme because it was "a complete waste of money" and the party had asked for "break clauses" to be inserted into government contracts so it could be ended "without massive cost and waste to the public purse". | |
| The government's plan to involve retailers in enrolling people was "worrying" given the government's IT track record, he added. | |
| "We know that the government has a real problem keeping control of public data and I am at a loss to see how they can provide that reassurance if in fact they are rolling out part of this scheme through the private sector." | |
| He added: "It is going to amass a database which we think will be white elephant in terms of any practical benefits but will in fact be a serious risk to individuals that they may well in fact have their identities hijacked by another person." | |
| He said the government was also preparing to unveil a further rise in its original cost estimate, which he claimed would now top £15bn. | |
| The Liberal Democrats are also opposed to the ID card scheme and have said they would scrap it. |