Government sweetens ID card pill

Charles Clarke has outlined the planned cost of ID cards

Home Secretary Charles Clarke has outlined the planned cost of ID cards in a bid to pacify critics ahead of a commons vote on the ID Card Bill on 18 October.

Standalone ID cards for those without passports will cost £30. Most people, however, will be required to pay £93 when they renew their passport and get an ID card at the same time, although the Home Office stressed that this figure is "indicative" rather than "final".

It is estimated that 20 per cent of the UK population, mainly the poor and elderly, do not have a driving licence or a passport.

The government's estimate for the overall cost of ID cards is £5.8bn. But the scheme has been criticised by academics, analysts and the IT industry who put the cost at closer to £19.2bn, or over £200 per person.

The scheme has even prompted 10,000 UK citizens to pledge money and support to challenge the legislation if it makes it through parliament. 

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said that independent academics predict the scheme to cost far more than current estimates, and referred to it as a "plastic poll tax".

Somewhat controversially Mr Clarke said that funding would come from a range of government departments that would benefit from the scheme, although he has not yet secured their commitment.

Critics are also angry that detailed costings of the scheme are not available. Mr Clarke said that a detailed breakdown is not possible because the data is commercially sensitive and could be exploited by potential providers.

But the home secretary said that savings would be made by rolling out the scheme more quickly using registration with the Criminal Records Bureau as well as passport applications.