| UK government reduces ambition of electronic ID scheme |
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| 02 July 2009 | |
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However, the government said that a plan would continue to issue to identity cards to all non-European Economic Area nationals residing in Britain. The government also said, in a June 30 statement, that voluntary take-up of eID would be encouraged because "at a cost of just £30, the identity card will provide a cheap, universal and simple proof of identity, helping protect against ID fraud and acting as an important tool in the fight against organised crime, illegal working and terrorism." In promoting the cards, the government said it would "focus attention on young people, for whom [the cards] will act as a proof of age, helping prove an individual's right to enter premises or buy goods." The first voluntary roll-out to British people in general would take place in Manchester, in north-western England, before the end of 2009, the government added. ID cards are controversial in the UK, which does not have a formal identity card scheme. The British government hoped to introduce such a scheme directly by rolling-out electronic ID cards. The Conservative party, the main opposition to the governing Labour party, has said it will scrap the ID card scheme should it be elected to government. See the previous article on Euro-correspondent.com. For more Digital State articles, click here. |
The British government at the end of June put in question the continued development of an electronic identity card scheme in the United Kingdom, by saying it would never be made mandatory, and by scrapping plans to require pilots and airport workers to hold eID cards, writes | < Prev | Next > |
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