Spending on the set-up costs of the ID cards scheme will
more than double this year, the Identity and Passport Service's
business plan has revealed.
The IPS began formal operations this month, following the
enactment of the ID Cards bill. It will oversee the introduction of
the national identity scheme as well as taking over the existing
passport service.
Figures in the IPS's business plan for April 2006 to March 2007
show that spending to set up the ID cards scheme will rise from
£25m in 2005-06 to £56m in 2006-07.
The plan also sets out the agency's key tasks, which include
completing the roll-out of a newly designed ePassport, with
additional security including a biometric chip, during the third
quarter of 2006.
"From late 2007, we expect to pilot the recording of additional
biometrics for passports [fingerprints], which will enable us to
create second-generation biometric passports designed to keep us in
line with developing European Union standards," it says.
The IPS also intends future releases of operational passport
systems to support electronic checking of birth, marriage and death
information from late 2006.
The new agency announced its new top team earlier this month,
with Katherine Courtney, former head of the Home Office's ID card
programme, becoming executive director of business development.
Alan Barnish continues as acting chief executive.