The Identity Cards Act was passed by Parliament in March 2006.
This is what will happen:
- Identity cards will start to be issued in around 2009 to people who renew or apply for passports - you will be able to opt out of getting an identity card, but you cannot stop your information being registered on the National Identity Register
- you will be fingerprinted & a scan taken of the iris of your eye
- you'll be charged about £93 (or more) for a combined passport/ID card (or possibly around £40 for the basic card)
- ID cards will be compulsory in about 2010.
So it's voluntary before that? Er, no.
- the Identity Cards Act gives the power to make cards compulsory for certain groups of people
- Your details can be registered on the National Identity Register even if you haven't applied for an ID card
- If you want to travel and apply for a new passport, you'll get an ID card.
- The government wants us to have to use the card to access all kinds of public services - e.g. health, education, social welfare. They would like to see businesses like banks and shops requiring to see ID cards. Unless we want to be deprived of essential services, they won't be giving us much choice!
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