Hewitt reveals split over ID cards

Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, has revealed Cabinet splits over Home Secretary David Blunkett's plans for national ID cards.

Blunkett is desperate to get paving legislation into the Queen's speech in November, which would allow him to introduce an entitlement card scheme.

The home secretary is currently trying to win Cabinet support for his proposals, but Hewitt is not convinced by his plans.

She told a BBC Question Time audience that the public sector record in delivering complex IT projects raised concerns about its ability to deliver on ID cards.

"The principle, the civil liberties and the practicalities of great big IT projects and databases have a horrible habit of going wrong," she said.

The admission that an ID card scheme faces significant technical challenges underlines concerns felt within Whitehall over the practicalities of delivering such a programme, especially as the concerns are raised by a former e-minister.

Blunkett's scheme would rely on combining personal information garnered from a variety of sources, such as driving licence and passport databases, and even incorporating biometric information. Clearly doubts remain over the government's ability to do this.

Earlier this week, Blunkett told the BBC that he wanted to see the necessary legislation form part of the Queen's Speech. Whether he gets his way is evidently still being fought over in Cabinet.