UK lawmakers back ambitious ID scheme

LONDON - Plans to launch the world's most ambitious biometric identity cards have cleared their first hurdle, despite the first revolt against Prime Minister Tony Blair since his re-election.

His government's 66-seat majority in the lower house was cut to 31 when lawmakers voted in favour of the cards, designed to counter terrorism, crime and illegal immigration.

Despite the setback for Blair, who was returned to office with a reduced majority on May 5, the proposals will continue their long journey to becoming law.

If accepted, it would be the first time Britons have carried ID cards since they were abolished after World War Two by the government of Winston Churchill.

Critics, who say cards are expensive, unnecessary and intrusive, fear they would eventually become compulsory.

The cards would use biometric technology in fingerprint, face and iris recognition.

Neil Fisher, director of security and intelligence at technology group QinetiQ, said many other countries were watching the British progress.

"Nobody has ever undertaken an identity card system with this complexity before, using three biometrics ..." he told Reuters.

"America in particular is watching us with close interest and I think if we do go forward with this and we get it right, it will be a model for many people to follow."

Home Secretary Charles Clarke pledged yesterday to cap the price of a card, floated the idea of cut-price fees for people on low incomes and promised to produce a full outline of the scheme's cost before the ID Cards Bill completes is passage through the Commons.

He insisted that ID cards would rein back the "Big Brother" society.

He declared: "I argue the ID card system is a bulwark against the surveillance society, the Big Brother society, and not a further contribution to it."

But he came under sustained fire from MPs from all parties, amid open rebellion on the Labour benches, while David Davis, the Conservative shadow Home Secretary, condemned the plans as "illiberal and impractical, excessive and expensive, unnecessary and unworkable."

Voluntary cards would not be introduced before 2008 at the earliest and they would not be made compulsory before 2013, and only then if parliament agrees, the government says.

ID CHALLENGE

The Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties say they will vote against the cards.

Although Blair's House of Commons majority was reduced in May's election, and some of his Labour members of parliament may vote against in protest, political analysts do not expect the plan to be rejected.

Mr Clarke attempted to defuse opposition to ID cards, insisting they would provide "real benefits" for individuals and society.

He dismissed as "fantastic" claims that people could be charged up to £300 for an ID card. He said they would cost only £25- 30 more than the projected £63 cost of new biometric passports.

He said he was prepared to cap the cost of a card, although he would not be drawn on the final price of the document.

A study on Monday said the cost of the scheme could soar to 19 billion pounds -- three times official estimates -- but Blair dismissed it as wildly exaggerated.

Mr Davis said that Winston Churchill's government had abolished ID cards after its three original purposes had expanded into 39 uses.

He said: "That is a warning for us all about the way governments will take a mile of your freedom if you give them an inch."

ID cards are used in about a dozen EU countries, although they are not always compulsory and do not carry as much data.

The vote was the start of a long parliamentary process which will see the bill debated many times.

- REUTERS and INDEPENDENT