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>HMG press release: > > 341/2002 > > 9 December 2002 > > ENTITLEMENT CARDS CONSULTATION: HOME OFFICE MINISTER BEVERLEY > HUGHES SEES LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN GLASGOW PASSPORT OFFICE > > The latest technology to scan irises to help establish a person's > identity more securely, was seen today by Home Office Minister, > Beverley Hughes, at Glasgow's Passport Office as part of a UK-wide > consultation on Entitlement Cards. > > Photographing a person's iris and storing the picture on a card in a > microchip is one of the "biometric" options proposed in the > Government's consultation paper, Entitlement Cards and Identity > Fraud, published in July. > > The consultation, which runs until 31 January, aims to assess whether > the public would find an entitlement card helpful in accessing > services, and would be effective in tackling illegal immigration. The > paper sets out practical options for an entitlement card, including > using existing photocard driving licences and UK passports to avoid > duplication of existing documents, and providing an 'entitlement card > only'" for those who do not have a passport or a driving licence. > > The Government has ruled out the option of a card which would be > compulsory to carry or any changes to police powers. > > Ms Hughes said: > > "The Government has always said that the introduction of an > entitlement card would be a major step and that we will not proceed > without consulting widely and considering all the views expressed > very carefully. We are in the middle of a public consultation and I > am glad that so many people - around 1,500 so far - have already sent > in their comments to us. > > "There are some very important issues and questions around > entitlement cards, on which we have started the public debate , for > example does the public think that a card system would help to tackle > illegal working and combat illegal immigration by reducing 'pull > factors' by giving employers a straightforward way to check > eligibility for work? > > "Identity fraud is a growing problem, which costs the taxpayer £1.3 > billion every year. I believe that there are real advantages in > introducing a card which could guarantee and protect our identity. > But would the public find it useful to have a card which helped to > establish their identity more securely , possibly using an iris scan? > > "We need to hear from the public about what they really think to help > us reach the right decision. We can only benefit from continuing to > have an open and honest debate on these issues." > > Other potential uses of an entitlement card detailed in the > consultation document are: a convenient travel card in Europe; a > proof of age card; a way of tackling identity fraud; a card to > promote new ways of voting; and a way of fostering citizenship. > > Views will also be sought on important issues such as cost, privacy > and duplication of existing documents. > > NOTES TO EDITORS: > > 1. The iris photographing demonstrator will be in the Glasgow > Passport Office at 96 Milton Street, Cowcaddens, Glasgow, for > approximately two weeks and will be available to the public to try > out. > > 2. Details of the iris photographing technology: > > - The Entitlement Scheme would need to establish the identity of > card-holders securely. One of the means of doing this suggested in > the consultation paper is to use biometric information to ensure that > the dual identities are not recorded on identity databases and that a > card could be linked securely to the person presenting it. > > - Biometrics include iris photographs, facial patterns and finger > print systems. It is likely that if an entitlement card scheme went > ahead which used biometrics, two would be used - for example a > photograph of an iris supported by facial pattern recognition. > > - The use of biometric identification like iris photographs contained > in a chip on an entitlement card, would be used to help confirm that > the user is the authorised person and to prevent fraudsters from > establishing multiple identities. > > - The iris technology demonstrator shows how the iris is photographed > and then stored in chip on a card and also how the authentication > process works once the image of the iris is stored on a card. > > The Registration facility comprises a camera, card reader and card > printer. The Authentication/use set-up includes a camera and a card > reader. The Registration sequence will be: > > - applicant's name is entered onto the system; > - iris image is captured and stored on a "database"; > - card is produced with the Iris image and entered name > stored on the chip; and > - card will be given to the applicant. > > The Authentication sequence will be: > > - applicant will enter the card into the reader; > - applicants "declared" name will be entered; > - iris image will be taken; > - image will be compared to that on the card and the > "declared" name; compared to data on the chip; and > - applicant will be authenticated or not. > > 2. The Government wants the debate on the issues raised by this > consultation document to be as wide as possible and would like to see > as many responses as possible. There are many questions and issues > that the Government would like comment on including: > > "What services people would find most useful to link to a card and > which service providers in the public and private sectors would wish > to use a card scheme". > > 3. The consultation period finishes on 31 January 2003. Comments > should be sent to: > > Entitlement Cards Unit, > Home Office, > 50, Queen Anne's Gate, > London, > SW1 9AT. > > Or they can be sent via email to: > > [log in to unmask] > > Full copies of Entitlement Cards and Identity Fraud are available at > www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dob/ecu.htm