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Identity Cards Act

Key Benefits
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;

Act of Parliament

Explanatory Notes

Territorial Extent
United Kingdom

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 2004-2005 session's Identity Cards Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 29th November 2004, but following 2nd Reading in the House of Lords on 21st March 2005, the Bill ran out of time before the May 2005 general election. The 2005-2006 session's Bill was based closely on the previous session's Bill with the inclusion of some minor drafting amendments. It was introduced in the House of Commons on 25th May 2005 with 2nd Reading on 28th June 2005 and the Identity Cards Act received Royal Assent on 30th March 2006.

Useful links:

Identity cards: the Next Steps (Cm 6020) (.pdf file)

Draft ID Cards Bill [last session] Cm 6178 (.pdf file)

Home Affairs Pre-Legislative Scrutiny Report - 30 July 2004 (HC130) (.pdf file)

Goverment response to the Home Affairs Select Committee Report - 27 October 2004 (Cm 6359) (.pdf file)

2nd Reading of the ID Cards Bill, House of Lords - 21 March 2005

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005

Joint Committee on Human Rights

Liberty