This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6642339.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
'Bad news' over ID cards 'buried' ID card costs rise above £5bn
(about 1 hour later)
The government has been accused of "burying bad news" over the soaring costs of the ID card scheme. The cost of the controversial ID card scheme has soared to more than £5bn.
The Home Office released figures showing the scheme will now cost more than £5bn, just as Tony Blair announced his resignation as Labour leader. The figures were released as Tony Blair announced his departure, leading to claims from the opposition that the government was "burying bad news".
Shadow Treasury Minister Mark Hoban said in the Commons: "This is clearly a good day to bury bad news." The Tories and Lib Dems also claimed that the Home Office broke the law by releasing the updated figures a month later than they should have.
The Home Office put the £400m increased costs down to extra staff carrying out vetting and extra anti-fraud measures.The Home Office put the £400m increased costs down to extra staff carrying out vetting and extra anti-fraud measures.
CompulsoryCompulsory
Projected costs from 2006 to 2016 were calculated to be £5.31bn, compared with previous estimates of £4.91bn.Projected costs from 2006 to 2016 were calculated to be £5.31bn, compared with previous estimates of £4.91bn.
The Home Secretary is required by law to give Parliament an update on the costs every six months. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said the true rise was actually £640m - to £5.55bn over 10 years.
But at Commons questions, Mr Hoban said: "This is clearly a good day to bury bad news and that's why the report on the cost of the ID card scheme has been published today, nearly a month late and in breach of the law." Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "The public will see through this transparent and pathetic attempt to bury bad news.
He said the Treasury had yet to approve the expenditure for the scheme and questioned whether Chancellor Gordon Brown would scrap it if he became Prime Minister. "It is also no surprise the government has had to revise their cost estimate up by so much.
Treasury Chief Secretary Stephen Timms told him that the Treasury would approve the costs of the scheme. "The public should brace themselves for more increases every time this estimate is updated."
'Great white elephant'
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "It is bad enough that the government seeks to bury bad news behind the camouflage of Tony Blair's announcement.
"Breaking the law to do so breaks new ground even for Tony Blair's Labour Party."
He added: "The costs are now spiralling out of control. On the grounds of expense alone, the Government should do us all a favour and abandon this great white elephant before it is too late."
Liberty Director Shami Chakrabarti said: "The soaring costs and declining support for the grand ID card folly are increasingly inescapable.
"Surely this dangerous and expensive idea must leave Number 10 with its author?"
ID cards are not due to become compulsory until at least 2010.ID cards are not due to become compulsory until at least 2010.
The Tories and Liberal Democrats oppose ID cards and say they would scrap them if they got into power.