DAVID BLUNKETT: NATIONAL ID CARD SCHEME TO BE INTRODUCED
Reference: 307/2003 - Date: 11 Nov 2003 12:30
Government plans for a secure ID card scheme to prepare the UK meet the challenges of the 21st century were set out today by the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, after public consultation showed strong support.
The card scheme, to be phased in over a number of years, would include basic personal information, a digital photo and a "biometric" which can include facial recognition, iris scans or fingerprints. For most UK citizens, the card will take the form of a biometric passport which will be upgraded when it comes up for renewal. At the same time, all EU and foreign nationals coming into the country for more than three months will have to pay for a biometric residence permit.
The Government expects that 80 per cent of the adult population would have an ID card by 2013 if passports and driving licences are issued on the proposed biometric basis. The card would become compulsory thereafter for all residents after a decision by the Cabinet and a vote in Parliament.
The scheme would:
* boost the fight against illegal working - giving employers a recognisable secure way of ensuring people are entitled to work - and making it easier to prosecute those employers who break the law. From the commencement of the scheme all foreign nationals entering the UK for more than three months will have to pay for a biometric residence permit;
* tackle immigration abuse - the lack of a card in the UK compared to most other EU countries is a pull factor for those who think they can come here and disappear;
* disrupt the use of false and multiple identities by terrorists and organised crime groups such as money laundering which supports their terrorist or other criminal activities. Using multiple identities is one of the most common practices of those involved in terrorist activity;
* ensure free public services are only used by those entitled to them - preventing abuse such as ‘health tourism’;
* help protect people from identity theft - it can take the average victim 300 hours to put their records straight.
The UK is already working on upgrading passports which will include chips containing biometric data, to meet tough international security requirements. From October 2004, only holders of biometric visas will be able to enter the USA, and countries like the UK which currently participate in the 90-day visa waiver scheme will have to develop biometric passports.
The UK Passport Service will shortly begin a six-month biometric pilot to test face, iris and fingerprint capture and recognition. A national ID card scheme would take advantage of the infrastructure being put in place to support these developments, significantly reducing the costs of the card.
Public responses to the Government’s consultation last year showed that 62 per cent of people are in favour of ID cards. This rose to 80 per cent in a survey of a representative sample of the population. The consultation also showed that the public preferred the term "identity" rather than "entitlement" cards.
Mr Blunkett said:
"The combination of greater global mobility and advancing technology is making it increasingly difficult to protect and authenticate people’s identity. To deal with these 21st century challenges, the UK is to introduce secure passports using high-tech biometrics. We are looking similarly at more secure driving licences and intend to build on this technological infrastructure already being put in place, to develop a national ID card scheme.
"An ID card scheme will help tackle the crime and serious issues facing the UK, particularly illegal working, immigration abuse, ID fraud, terrorism and organised crime. The implementation of this scheme will begin as soon as the legislative framework and technology have been put in place to issue the card for the renewal of first passports and then driving licences.
"We know that the absence of an ID card in the UK - unlike most other countries in Europe - is a pull factor for those seeking to abuse our immigration system. However, an ID card would ensure legitimate foreign residents are properly identified, so that they can be welcomed and integrated into our society.
"An ID card scheme will clamp down on health tourism and help tackle benefit fraudsters as access to these services becomes possible only with the new secure card. Public services have been exploited for too long by those people not entitled to them.
"Criminals are increasingly sophisticated and we need to keep one step ahead by making the best use of new technology. A high-tech, secure ID card scheme is the logical next step to meeting these challenges, and to prepare Britain for the future.
"ID fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes. It can ruin lives and costs the country more than £1.3 billion every year. People protect their property and cars with the latest technology - we now need to protect our identities with the same security.
"The key to secure identities are high-tech personal biometric identifiers contained in a chip on the card which will link to a secure national database.
"What we know the public want, which is what we are now proposing, is a scheme that can provide them with a secure and convenient way of confirming their identity, to protect it from theft, tackle terrorism and organised crime and ensure free public services only go to those entitled to them."
The details of the card are yet to be finalised, but it is likely that:
* basic details will be on the face of the card such as name, age, validity dates, nationality, whether a person has a right to work, and an unique number;
* a secure encrypted chip will additionally contain a unique personal biometric identifier;
* cards will be linked to a national secure database which will contain the data from the card and be able to use the biometric data to confirm identity, preventing multiple card applications;
* biometrics will be incorporated into forthcoming passport cards - a plain card will be available for those people who have no passport;
* they will cost an estimated £3.50 per year per person. These costs arise largely from the development of secure biometric identifiers to which we are already committed to including on passports;
* we will be looking at a range of schemes to allow people to pay in instalments; and
* we will provide substantial concessions to those in low income groups, over 75s and be free the first time to 16-year-olds. Beyond the age of 75 it will be free for life.
The Government, through Parliament, would make ID cards compulsory when the technology is seen to be working, take-up reaches an appropriate level and public acceptability of the card enables the implementation of a universal scheme. It will not be compulsory to carry a card.
Primary legislation would be required for a national ID card scheme, which would set out clear rules and safeguards on the use of the ID card system and protections against invasion of privacy.
Notes to editors:
1. The UK Government published a consultation paper on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud on 3 July 2002. The consultation period ended on 31 January 2003. The public consultation and polling results were published today and can be found at
http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm60/6020/6020.htm
2. As soon as the database is available identity cards would be issued to foreign nationals and EU residents seeking to remain in the country. An optional card would also be available for those who do not have, or wish to have, a passport or driving licence.
3. In May 2003, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) adopted a global, harmonised blueprint for biometric information in passports and other travel documents. The agreed ICAO standard is the inclusion of a mandatory facial image biometric in a contactless chip (i.e. the document is placed on a reader rather than being inserted), with the option of including a secondary biometric (e.g. fingerprint or iris image). The 188 ICAO contracting states are now looking at adopting this standard in their travel documents. Australia is likely to be the first to issue passports to the new ICAO standard, followed by New Zealand and the US.
4. The UKPS trial will enrol 10,000 volunteers over six months in several locations (including mobile units) to ensure a representative coverage of the population. A contract award will be announced in the next two weeks.
Published: 11 Nov 2003
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/n_story.asp?item_id=675
Reference: 307/2003 - Date: 11 Nov 2003 12:30
Government plans for a secure ID card scheme to prepare the UK meet the challenges of the 21st century were set out today by the Home Secretary, David Blunkett, after public consultation showed strong support.
The card scheme, to be phased in over a number of years, would include basic personal information, a digital photo and a "biometric" which can include facial recognition, iris scans or fingerprints. For most UK citizens, the card will take the form of a biometric passport which will be upgraded when it comes up for renewal. At the same time, all EU and foreign nationals coming into the country for more than three months will have to pay for a biometric residence permit.
The Government expects that 80 per cent of the adult population would have an ID card by 2013 if passports and driving licences are issued on the proposed biometric basis. The card would become compulsory thereafter for all residents after a decision by the Cabinet and a vote in Parliament.
The scheme would:
* boost the fight against illegal working - giving employers a recognisable secure way of ensuring people are entitled to work - and making it easier to prosecute those employers who break the law. From the commencement of the scheme all foreign nationals entering the UK for more than three months will have to pay for a biometric residence permit;
* tackle immigration abuse - the lack of a card in the UK compared to most other EU countries is a pull factor for those who think they can come here and disappear;
* disrupt the use of false and multiple identities by terrorists and organised crime groups such as money laundering which supports their terrorist or other criminal activities. Using multiple identities is one of the most common practices of those involved in terrorist activity;
* ensure free public services are only used by those entitled to them - preventing abuse such as ‘health tourism’;
* help protect people from identity theft - it can take the average victim 300 hours to put their records straight.
The UK is already working on upgrading passports which will include chips containing biometric data, to meet tough international security requirements. From October 2004, only holders of biometric visas will be able to enter the USA, and countries like the UK which currently participate in the 90-day visa waiver scheme will have to develop biometric passports.
The UK Passport Service will shortly begin a six-month biometric pilot to test face, iris and fingerprint capture and recognition. A national ID card scheme would take advantage of the infrastructure being put in place to support these developments, significantly reducing the costs of the card.
Public responses to the Government’s consultation last year showed that 62 per cent of people are in favour of ID cards. This rose to 80 per cent in a survey of a representative sample of the population. The consultation also showed that the public preferred the term "identity" rather than "entitlement" cards.
Mr Blunkett said:
"The combination of greater global mobility and advancing technology is making it increasingly difficult to protect and authenticate people’s identity. To deal with these 21st century challenges, the UK is to introduce secure passports using high-tech biometrics. We are looking similarly at more secure driving licences and intend to build on this technological infrastructure already being put in place, to develop a national ID card scheme.
"An ID card scheme will help tackle the crime and serious issues facing the UK, particularly illegal working, immigration abuse, ID fraud, terrorism and organised crime. The implementation of this scheme will begin as soon as the legislative framework and technology have been put in place to issue the card for the renewal of first passports and then driving licences.
"We know that the absence of an ID card in the UK - unlike most other countries in Europe - is a pull factor for those seeking to abuse our immigration system. However, an ID card would ensure legitimate foreign residents are properly identified, so that they can be welcomed and integrated into our society.
"An ID card scheme will clamp down on health tourism and help tackle benefit fraudsters as access to these services becomes possible only with the new secure card. Public services have been exploited for too long by those people not entitled to them.
"Criminals are increasingly sophisticated and we need to keep one step ahead by making the best use of new technology. A high-tech, secure ID card scheme is the logical next step to meeting these challenges, and to prepare Britain for the future.
"ID fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes. It can ruin lives and costs the country more than £1.3 billion every year. People protect their property and cars with the latest technology - we now need to protect our identities with the same security.
"The key to secure identities are high-tech personal biometric identifiers contained in a chip on the card which will link to a secure national database.
"What we know the public want, which is what we are now proposing, is a scheme that can provide them with a secure and convenient way of confirming their identity, to protect it from theft, tackle terrorism and organised crime and ensure free public services only go to those entitled to them."
The details of the card are yet to be finalised, but it is likely that:
* basic details will be on the face of the card such as name, age, validity dates, nationality, whether a person has a right to work, and an unique number;
* a secure encrypted chip will additionally contain a unique personal biometric identifier;
* cards will be linked to a national secure database which will contain the data from the card and be able to use the biometric data to confirm identity, preventing multiple card applications;
* biometrics will be incorporated into forthcoming passport cards - a plain card will be available for those people who have no passport;
* they will cost an estimated £3.50 per year per person. These costs arise largely from the development of secure biometric identifiers to which we are already committed to including on passports;
* we will be looking at a range of schemes to allow people to pay in instalments; and
* we will provide substantial concessions to those in low income groups, over 75s and be free the first time to 16-year-olds. Beyond the age of 75 it will be free for life.
The Government, through Parliament, would make ID cards compulsory when the technology is seen to be working, take-up reaches an appropriate level and public acceptability of the card enables the implementation of a universal scheme. It will not be compulsory to carry a card.
Primary legislation would be required for a national ID card scheme, which would set out clear rules and safeguards on the use of the ID card system and protections against invasion of privacy.
Notes to editors:
1. The UK Government published a consultation paper on Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud on 3 July 2002. The consultation period ended on 31 January 2003. The public consultation and polling results were published today and can be found at
http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm60/6020/6020.htm 2. As soon as the database is available identity cards would be issued to foreign nationals and EU residents seeking to remain in the country. An optional card would also be available for those who do not have, or wish to have, a passport or driving licence.
3. In May 2003, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) adopted a global, harmonised blueprint for biometric information in passports and other travel documents. The agreed ICAO standard is the inclusion of a mandatory facial image biometric in a contactless chip (i.e. the document is placed on a reader rather than being inserted), with the option of including a secondary biometric (e.g. fingerprint or iris image). The 188 ICAO contracting states are now looking at adopting this standard in their travel documents. Australia is likely to be the first to issue passports to the new ICAO standard, followed by New Zealand and the US.
4. The UKPS trial will enrol 10,000 volunteers over six months in several locations (including mobile units) to ensure a representative coverage of the population. A contract award will be announced in the next two weeks.
Published: 11 Nov 2003
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/n_story.asp?item_id=675 
