March 6, 2008 Non-EU Citizen in
Britain Need an ID Card By Dipankar
De Sarkar
London
Non-European Union citizens living in Britain will have to carry
around biometric identity cards from this year, the British
government announced Thursday.
The scheme to initially involve citizens from outside the 27-nation
EU region is part of a government rethink of a controversial project
to introduce compulsory identity cards for everyone living in
Britain.
Aimed at stopping the misuse of Britain's free health and benefits
systems by illegal immigrants and combating terrorism, the scheme
had to be taken off the shelf after strong criticism from opposition
parties and civil liberties groups.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said Thursday the scheme will still need
approval of the parliament.
"Increasingly, we need to be able to prove our identity in a whole
range of ways - when we're travelling, when we're opening a bank
account or accessing government services," Smith said.
"We're all better protected if we can be confident that other people
are who they say they are," she added.
According to a timetable for compulsory ID cards set out by her,
non-EU citizens will be followed by airport baggage handlers and
people in other sensitive security jobs, who will be issued these
cards next year.
Students will be included in 2010 and all citizens renewing their
passports will be brought into the fold from 2011.
Moves by the Labour government to introduce ID cards on grounds of
fighting terrorism and illegal immigration have been controversial,
with critics claiming it is too expensive at a cost of nearly 5.5
billion pounds over 10 years.
They also say the scheme, which envisages the creation of a National
Register, threatens civil liberties and may be misused.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "It is inconceivable that
these (airport) workers would not already have full ID verification.
"Therefore the question has to be, will this add to airport security
or is it a way of getting the British public used to an ID card by
stealth - despite an explicit promise from a former home secretary
that this programme would not be rolled out in a compulsory fashion
without a vote in the House of Commons."
Smith admitted: "While there are big advantages to making ID cards
as widespread as possible, we need to be clear there is public
acceptance.
"We need to be clear that the technology is there and, of course,
Parliament would have the final decision as to whether or not, and
when, entry on the identity register became compulsory."
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