LONDON: The British government's plans for a high-tech national identity cards scheme has hit a roadblock with the house of Lords voting to seek more details on its cost. The upper house voted by a majority of 81 asking for the details.
In another vote, by a majority of 62, the Lords demanded a secure and reliable method of recording and storing citizens' personal data and in a third vote, by a majority of 53, they sought an amendment limiting the potential requirement of ID cards for access to public services
The government immediately responded to the first two votes saying it has already explained the costs and benefits and a new report will be cumbersome and will add to the costs and that existing laws ensure the safety of the data.
The scheme works on fingerprint, iris and face recognition technology and is being described as one of the ambitious experiments in biometric identification and when implemented it can be a model for other countries. The prime aim of such cards is to combat fraud and terrorism. The government claims these can be effectively used against the modern day crimes like identity theft, abuse of state benefits schemes, illegal immigration and terrorism. However, detractors see the scheme as unworkable, costly and undermining civil liberties.
All British citizens are initially expected to buy the cards when they apply for a passport. The home office has estimated that it will cost 93 pounds for a passport and identity card together, while the cost of a standalone identity card will be 30 pounds. It said the scheme will be self-financing and accountants firm KPMG has certified the plan. The administration costs will be 584 million pounds a year.
The Lords are taking up the issue on the basis of a study by the academics at the London School of Economics last year, which estimated the cost of the scheme to be around 19 billion pounds, which will mean each card, will cost up to 300 pounds.
In an update to its earlier report yesterday, the LSE said the home office had failed to provide information about funding and questioned the security of the scheme. It said, "The performance of biometric technology is increasingly questionable. We continue to contest the legality of the scheme."
A bill proposing introduction of the scheme got an approval from the Commons in October although some members of the ruling party had expressed reservations.
The government appeared to be unfazed by the votes. Ministers said they will press ahead with the plans and reiterated that costs cannot be revealed at this stage as it would be hard to get a good deal. The government is likely to try to overturn the defeats when the bill returns to the Commons.
Posted
on : Tue, 17 Jan 2006 08:50 GMT | Politics News
By : Paula Jenkins
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