IDENTITY CARDS BILL

KEY MEASURES

• Sets out the legal framework to enable identity cards to be introduced throughout the United Kingdom and to create a National Identity Register
  Identity Cards will help: 
  -  Tackle illegal working and immigration abuse;
  -  The prevention and detection of crime and counter-terrorism;
  -  Prevent identity theft and fraud;
  -  Prevent fraudulent access to public services;
  -  Enable easier and more convenient access to services;
• Allows verification of cards with consent of holder;
• Safeguards on provision of ID card information without consent;
• Creates new offences - fraudulent use of a card, possession of false identity documents, unauthorised disclosure of information by administrators of the scheme;
• Establishes National Identity Scheme Commissioner to review operation of the scheme - annual report to the Home Secretary laid before Parliament;
• Bill provides for compulsion to register at a later stage.

TERRITORIAL EXTENT

The Bill will be a United Kingdom Bill. Although the issue of identity cards is reserved (identity cards will be issued uniformly throughout the United Kingdom), any requirement to produce an identity card as a requirement to access public services will depend on whether or not that service is devolved.

COMMENTS

Additional information on the identity cards programme is available at

www.identitycards.gov.uk or e-mail identitycards@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Government announced on 11th November 2003 the  intention to build the base for a compulsory national identity cards scheme, as set out in "Identity Cards: the Next Steps" (Cm 6020). A draft Identity Cards Bill was published for consultation on 26th April 2004 (Cm 6178) and pre-legislative scrutiny was carried out by the Home Affairs Committee, which published a report on identity cards on 30th July 2004 (HC 130). The Government's reply to the Home Affairs Committee's report and recommendations was published on 27th October 2004 (Cm 6359). The previous session's Identity Cards Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 29th November 2004 and received its 2nd Reading on 20th December 2004. However, following 2nd Reading in the House of Lords on 21st March 2005, the Bill ran out of time before the general election. The current Bill is based closely on the previous session's Bill with the inclusion of some minor drafting amendments.