In a widely anticipated move, the Queen announced:
"My government will take forward work on an incremental approach to a national identity cards scheme and will publish a draft Bill in the New Year."
Incremental is the key word here, allowing the costs, practical difficulties and public opposition to the controversial scheme to be dealt with gradually. This approach has also helped bypass Cabinet division on the subject, as it substantially delays the final decision on introduction of a compulsory scheme.
The scheme will revolve around a national database that will be accessed by many agencies, public and private, to verify the identity of UK citizens.
Individuals will carry their own identity card, containing basic personal information such as name, age, nationality, right to work and a unique identifier. The card will also contain a digital photo and a biometric, such as an iris scan or fingerprints.
The technology and practice behind the card will be developed through the introduction of biometric passports and driving licenses, work on which is already underway.
By 2013 the Government expects that 80% of the UK's adult population will have one or other of the biometric passports and licences, and at that point it expects that legislation to make the scheme compulsory will be considered.
Home Secretary David Blunkett commented:
"The draft Identity Cards Bill is about taking the difficult decisions now needed to prepare Britain for future. It will set out our plans for an incremental approach to the introduction of a compulsory national identity cards scheme. It would build on existing plans to introduce biometrics on passports and eventually driving licences, giving us a secure system which will enable us to tackle the challenges of the 21st century."
But Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights organisation Liberty, said:
"It is well known that a considerable number of senior cabinet ministers believe the introduction of a national ID card would be costly, of little or no use in combating crime or terrorism and lead to numerous administrative errors. By claiming that the measure is, initially, only about passports fools nobody. Mr Blanket is determined to introduce a compulsory national card to be held by everyone, by stealth if necessary. I honestly believe this could turn into Labour's poll tax."