The government has delayed the widespread introduction
ofID cards, and will instead initially
target three groups for the £18bn scheme.
Home secretary Jacqui Smith said today that
foreign nationals from outside the EU, airport and port workers
and students would be the first people to be targeted by the ID
card scheme.
And in a major government U-turn, she said UK citizens would
instead be able to use their passports to prove who they say they
are, instead of having to apply for a national ID card too.
There will be an opt-out from the national ID card when renewing
passports. The two were previously married together in the
government's original scheme.
Non-EU nationals will be issued with compulsory ID cards later
this year, and airport baggage handlers and people in other
sensitive security roles will get them from 2009.
Students will be offered them from 2010. Although they will not
be compulsory, the National
Union of Students (NUS) said not having one may make it
difficult for students to apply for a student loan, get a bank
account or access college services.
The NUS opposes the plan as result.
The government previously planned to take biometrics - including
fingerprints - from everyone applying for a new passport from this
year.
The proposal was that anyone applying for a passport or renewing
one from January 2010 would also have to get an ID card.
The taking of biometrics for a passport now will not be
compulsory until 2012.