The UK Passport Service (UKPS) is to implement a new database to contribute to the government's proposed identity card programme.

UKPS has conducted a long-term review of its IT strategy and concluded that to cope with 'new demands' it will have to replace the existing passport application processing system (PASS).

'PASS will need to be progressively replaced over the next five years. A new modular-structured system is needed to facilitate the scale of anticipated changes in the years ahead,' says the UKPS Annual Report and Accounts 2003-2004, published last week.

The service says it will implement a 'person centric database' rather than the existing 'passport centric' arrangement.

'This means the database is "keyed" on the individual rather than the application, because a person may have several applications over time, particularly if a passport is lost or stolen,' a UKPS spokesman told Computing.

'This concept will support our fraud activities. Additionally this concept will better support the government's ID card programme, specifically as biometrics are attributed to an individual not an application,' he said.

UKPS says it is not planning to adopt a 'big bang' approach to implement the new database but will gradually replace existing components over the next three to five years.

The service is also considering the introduction of a passport card that could be used for travel throughout the EU.

'As a travel document it would potentially be more convenient for the frequent traveller,' said the UKPS spokesman.

'The card would also potentially form part of the government's proposed ID card programme.'