ID cards suppliers could have premises raided

Leaked non-disclosure agreement calls for companies to adhere to strict security standards

ID cards suppliers are being asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement

Any of the five vendors shortlisted to supply the £5.4bn National Identity Scheme (NIS) could be fired from the programme if they do not agree with the terms of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) on information relating to the scheme.

The NDA provides strict rules for companies on keeping information relating to the scheme secure, including making data available only to necessary employees and destroying it should the firm withdraw from the scheme.

A leaked copy of the document shows that it will give government authorities the power to search the companies' premises to ensure that all information has been destroyed in the event of non-compliance with the agreement.

The NDA says the high-security requirements are necessary because "work involved in the NIS programme may involve contact with information, documents and other articles protected by the Official Secrets Acts 1911-1989".

Companies may disclose information "to the minimum extent" if required to do so by a court order.

The document was leaked to NO2ID campaigner Phil Booth and has been posted online.

There are five companies in the running for contracts to create the national ID card: IBM, Fujitsu, Computer Sciences Corporation, EDS and Thales.

A Home Office spokesman said that the NDA was standard practice.

"Robust data protection is central to the NIS and it is only right and proper that we reserve the right to check that any companies involved in delivering the scheme are properly protecting individuals' information," he said.

"It is standard practice in commercial agreements across both the public and private sectors to audit suppliers' records. This agreement does not grant the Home Secretary new legal powers and is appropriate in the protection of sensitive information."