Whitehall urged not to rush ID cards plan

Experts are warning that political pressures to introduce national identity cards must not be allowed to overshadow the challenge of implementing the technology to support the scheme.

The government has confirmed plans to put national identity cards at the centre of its security-focused parliamentary agenda for 2005, in this week's Queen's Speech.

Approval of the proposed Identity Cards Bill will lead to the creation of a compulsory national identity register storing biometric information about all UK citizens.

But with an election looming next year, political considerations will be at the forefront of ministers' minds.

'This is a hugely ambitious thing to attempt and nothing has been done on this scale anywhere, ever,' Will Davies, senior research fellow at think-tank the Institute of Public Policy Research, told Computing.

'The technology shouldn't be rushed due to the nature of the risks involved. If it's rushed then the fear of a melt down would increase.'

The Home Office announced plans to set up a new executive agency to manage the ID card scheme, overseen by a National Identity Scheme Commissioner. Issuing cards is expected to begin in 2008.

'The Identity Cards Bill will set out the stringent safeguards we want for the use of the cards, what information they contain and who can access it,' said Home Secretary David Blunkett.

But experts say the design and development of the programme should not be rushed to meet political needs.

'The government needs to be realistic about this and ensure that political targets are not the be all and end all of this system,' said Nick Kalisperas, director of public sector at IT supplier body Intellect.

'It's not just an IT project it's a business change project and that realisation is fundamental to its success.'

The complexities of national biometrics registration, database design and security all need to be addressed before the scheme is introduced, says Dr Mike Rodd, director for external relations at the British Computer Society.

'It's not something you can do in six months, it will take some time and has a lot of requirements,' he said.