Plans to use iris biometrics for the government’s national identity card scheme have been shelved because of cost and technical uncertainties.

The biometric database developed for the programme will include the possibility of using iris scans, but initially will use only citizens’ 10 fingerprints, says Identity and Passport Service chief executive James Hall.

‘Collecting every biometric involves significant extra cost and I believe we can achieve the objective – securing people’s identities – without irises,’ he said.

The changes were published in the ID cards action plan by the Home Office in December.

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