The Times, London.THURSDAY NOVEMBER 01 2001
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,2-2001380619,00.html
National ID card ready after secret trial
BY MELISSA KITE, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
THE Home Office has secretly created a prototype national identity card in
preparation for the introduction of ID cards for all Britons.
Ministers commissioned the Passport Agency to carry out a feasibility study
aimed at producing a card with fingerprint and face-imaging technology, as
well as encoded information about the holder.
Behind-the-scenes discussions and tests have been in progress since 1999.
David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, wants time to consult his European
counterparts about the card before he announces the move, Whitehall insiders
said.

The technical trials, detailed in today's Computer Weekly magazine, are
understood to have produced a photocard passport that could form the basis
of a national identity Smartcard. The card would hold personal data and a
digitised photograph, using technology similar to that described this week
by Mr Blunkett for a mandatory card that he is introducing for
asylum-seekers.

Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, the Government has issued a
number of conflicting statements about plans for national ID cards.

A Home Office spokeswoman said yesterday: "A feasibility study has been
carried out in terms of design, security features, data storage, etc. At the
moment it is very early days and no decision has been taken."
She said that the technology was aimed only at developing an additional
travel document: "It is being looked into, we are not denying that.
Obviously we do have the technology, but at this stage it is only for
passports."

The extent of the preparations is disclosed in Passport service corporate
planning reports. Under the heading "tasks set", a business plan for
1999-2002 states: "To participate as necessary in any work concerning
national identity cards." It also outlines plans "subject to ministerial and
under government approval (to) introduce a photocard passport".

A 2001-06 report outlines the Smartcard project in full: "Working with its
international counterparts, the UKPS will explore whether the photograph may
be supplemented by other biometrics such as iris scan and automated face
recognition.

"Biometrics could be stored in a Smartcard that would incorporate security
features to make it more resilient to forgery. Work is currently under way
and it is anticipated that the first international biometric trials will
begin next year."

The report also outlines the possibility of requiring people to report in
person to the Passport Office, which would enable fingerprints or iris
prints to be taken for use on the card.

The technology is already in place at the Passport Office to introduce ID
cards. Digital photographs and signatures for passports are already possible
and are likely to be introduced by early next year.

Once that system has begun, all that would be required to bring in national
ID cards would be to transfer the stored digital photographs and signatures
for passports onto the new format.

The latest revelations come after months of conflicting signals from the
Government on the subject of ID cards.

After September 11, Mr Blunkett said that he was giving "fairly high
priority" to the idea. He said they would be used not just for security
purposes but also for holding social security information about the benefits
to which the holder is entitled. But in the face of an outcry from civil
liberty groups and some Labour MPs,

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