The scheme, according to the Government, will provide a simple and
secure 'gold standard' for proving identity, protecting people from
identity fraud and theft and providing them with a convenient means
of verifying their identity in everyday transactions.
It says it will also disrupt the use of false and multiple
identities which are used by organised criminals and in one third
of terrorist-related activity, tackle illegal working and
immigration abuse, ensure free public services are used only by
those who are properly entitled to them and ensure British citizens
are able to travel freely as international requirements for secure
biometric identity documents develop.
"The national identity cards scheme will give people confidence,
convenience and security in an increasingly vital aspect of modern
life – proving and protecting their identity," said Home Secretary
David Blunkett.
The proposals
According to the Government, the identity cards scheme will
build on ongoing work to make passports more secure by including
biometrics – unique personal identifiers such as facial images,
fingerprints or iris images.
Biometric identifiers combined with a secure database will, the
Government believes, enable anyone's identity to be accurately
verified and will prevent fraud and attempts to register multiple
identities.
The scheme will cover all those resident in the UK, including
all foreign nationals here for more than three months. Newly
arrived foreign nationals will have to register from 2008. British
citizens will initially enrol on the scheme as they renew their
passports. Ultimately, when Parliament decides, it will become
compulsory to register – though it will not be compulsory to carry
the card.
A new executive agency will issue the identity cards, starting
in 2008. It will incorporate the functions of the United Kingdom
Passport Service and work closely with the Home Office's
Immigration and Nationality Directorate.
A National Identity Scheme Commissioner will also be created.
The Commissioner will have oversight of the whole scheme, including
provision of information from the National Identity Register.
"Publication of the Bill marks a further step in the careful
process of consultation and refinement which we began almost three
years ago. This is an ambitious, long-term project and we are
taking the time and care, drawing on outside expertise, to ensure
we get it right," said Mr Blunkett.
The Bill replaces a previous draft published in April, and
reflects some of the comments and criticisms made during the
subsequent consultation period.
In particular, according to Home Office Minister Fiona
Mactaggart, amendments have been made that will extend the remit of
the National Identity Scheme Commissioner to cover oversight of the
whole scheme, not just issues relating to provision of information
from the Register. Amendments have also removed the bar to an
individual's information contained in the access records of the
Register being made available to that registered individual.
Both of these issues had been raised by civil rights groups,
anxious about the privacy implications of the proposals.
The Government has also agreed to extend the prohibition on
requirements to produce identity cards for services, so that
neither production of an ID card nor a check would be lawful before
Parliament agreed the necessary regulations. In addition it has
confirmed that the absolute prohibition on making it compulsory to
carry a card at all times remains.
Finally, the Government has amended the false documents offence
in the Bill so that it does not include those who knowingly use
false documentation to enter the UK to apply for asylum.
In general the Bill now provides for:
- the statutory purposes of the scheme;
- establishing the National Identity Register;
- providing powers to issue identity cards;
- ensuring checks can be made against other databases to confirm
an applicant's identity and guard against fraud;
- setting out what information will be held and what safeguards
will be put in place;
- enabling public and private sector organisations to verify a
person's identity by having it checked against the National
Identity Register;
- making clear the limitations on the information which is held
on the National Identity Register and which can be checked via the
verification service;
- creating new criminal offences on the possession of false
identity documents, including genuine documents that have been
improperly obtained or relate to someone else;
- creating a specific offence on tampering with the National
Identity Register;
- including enabling powers so that in the future access to
specified public services could be linked to the production of a
valid identity card; and
- providing a power at a future date for it to become compulsory
to register and be issued with a card, including penalties against
failure to register.
Costs and penalties
The estimated cost of introducing the scheme has now doubled to
£5.5 billion, according to the Financial Times. The Government
explains that some of this money would have to have been spent
anyway, in order to bring UK passports up to the standards soon to
be required for entry to other countries, notably the US.
The cost of failing to register with the scheme has also been
clarified, amounting to £2,500. Other civil penalties being created
in connection with the scheme include fines for not notifying the
register of changes in personal details – such as name or address –
and for not renewing the card.
"The penalties are outrageous," Phil Booth, spokesman for
activist group NO2ID, told the Independent newspaper. "Millions of
people oppose the plans; people are telling us that they would
rather go to prison than sign up."
One point that has not been detailed in the proposals is the
date on which the Government is likely to create legislation to
make it compulsory to register.
The Home Secretary has said in the past that this is likely to
be in 2012 or 2013 and that the legislation will be pushed through
once a critical mass of the people have voluntarily received
identity cards, or been issued with them when updating their
passports.
However, the Bill published yesterday is quiet on this issue,
leaving Ministers with the power to enact the "compulsory" aspects
of the Bill at an earlier stage if so required.
"The Government of course takes seriously the privacy and
freedom of people, the ID cards register will only hold the basic
information which is already held by different departments and
public bodies," said the Prime Minister at a press conference
yesterday. "The biometric identifiers will ensure the privacy of
that information is protected and correctly tied to an individual.
Security of that database is also vital, and we are determined to
get it right, which is why we have always said that ID cards will
be introduced on a gradual basis, starting from 2008."
"I believe this is responsible government, not as some have
called it 'Big Brother government'," he added. "I simply point out
that without proper security then there can be no opportunity."
Purposes in the Bill
The Bill sets out the purposes for establishing and maintaining
the National Identity Register. The list is finite, but goes beyond
the themes of identity and entitlement that were initially put
forward by Blunkett. They now include what appears potentially to
be a very broad and general purpose: "for the purpose of securing
the efficient and effective provision of public services."
