The government says the estimated cost of introducing
ID cards has risen by a further £400m, to £5.31bn.
A Home Office report presented to parliament yesterday has
outlined the latest estimated costs.
Opposition parties have accused the government of trying to
bury bad news by delaying the latest estimates to the day of
the prime minister’s resignation.
The latest sixth month estimate, ordered by parliament, was a
month late coming. The Home Office said the delay in publishing the
figures to Blair’s resignation day was co-incidental.
Analysts had previously predicted that the costs of introducing
ID cards could eventually reach the levels spent on the NHS
National Programme for IT - £12.4bn.
The Home Office says the extra costs are down to increased
staffing costs and anti-fraud measures integrated into the
scheme.
The £5.31bn cost covers the period from 2006 to 2016.
ID cards are not due to become compulsory until 2010 at the
earliest.
Tony Collins
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>>
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