UK ID Card c. 1944 (Source: John Welford)

Background

• The UK Government announced its decision to introduce a National Identity Scheme in the Queen's Speech on 17 May 2005, and the Identity Cards Act received Royal Assent on 30 March 2006.

• The Government intends to introduce biometric residence permits for foreign nationals in 2008, with the first ID cards expected to be issued to British citizens in 2009.

• All UK residents over the age of 16 will be required to have a unique ID card that will combine the cardholder’s biometric data with checked and confirmed identity details, called a ‘biographical footprint’.

• The format of the ID cards hasn't been decided yet, but it is expected that they will be a credit card-sized plastic cards featuring the holder’s photograph and a computer chip storing basic personal information.

• These identity details and the biometrics will be stored on the National Identity Register (NIR). Basic identity information will also be held in a chip on the ID card itself.

• The scheme will be run by the Identity and Passport Service (IPS).

More detailed information about the Government's plans is available via the Home Office and Identity and Passport Service websites.

Seeding the Debate Map

The initial arguments in favour of the proposed ID System have been drawn from the relevant Home Office web sites...

The initlal counter arguments are drawn from the No2ID campaign...

...and the  Open Rights Group.