The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) has contracted IBM to
build a database to support the Government's switch to biometric
passports.
IBM will also provide a replacement for the UK Border Agency's
(UKBA) Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System (IAFS) which holds
biometrics collected from visa applicants under a 7 year
contract.
The projects will lay the foundations for the UK ID card
programme.
James Hall, Chief Executive of the Identity and Passport
Service, said, "This contract will provide a secure database for
storing facial and fingerprint images for the next generation of
biometric passports and will support the delivery of the National
Identity card."
As Computer Weekly has previously reported, the UK passport and
national identity card programmes have effectively been merged.
Passport application fees could rise to as much as £200 to
support the project.
