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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| ID card costs rise above £5bn | ID card costs rise above £5bn |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| The official cost of the controversial ID card scheme has risen to £5.31bn. | |
| The figures were released as Tony Blair announced his departure, leading to claims from the opposition that the government was "burying bad news". | The figures were released as Tony Blair announced his departure, leading to claims from the opposition that the government was "burying 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 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. |
| Compulsory | Compulsory |
| 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 Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said the true rise was actually £640m - to £5.55bn over 10 years. | The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said the true rise was actually £640m - to £5.55bn over 10 years. |
| Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "The public will see through this transparent and pathetic attempt to bury bad news. | Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "The public will see through this transparent and pathetic attempt to bury bad news. |
| "It is also no surprise the government has had to revise their cost estimate up by so much. | "It is also no surprise the government has had to revise their cost estimate up by so much. |
| "The public should brace themselves for more increases every time this estimate is updated." | "The public should brace themselves for more increases every time this estimate is updated." |
| 'Great white elephant' | '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. | 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." | "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." | 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. | 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?" | "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. |