Will cost and controversy keep Britain ID-free?

While David Blunkett may be keen on getting identity cards into the hands and wallets of the British public, it seems that a lack of government support could keep the UK ID-free for a while yet.

Blunkett is pushing to get the ID scheme included in this year's Queen's speech in November, in order to see legislation to introduce the cards hit parliament in the next session, but despite his enthusiasm for the scheme, cabinet colleagues' lukewarm response may see Her Majesty keeping tight-lipped on the subject.

While Blunkett has so far refused to give a definitive answer on whether the cards will be compulsory, he has stated that no-one would be able to work, claim benefits or access other public services without one - which pretty much equates to them being compulsory.

Ian Brown, director of technology think tank Foundation for Information Policy Research (FIPR), believes that the government is starting to get cold feet on the subject.

Brown said: "David Blunkett is still determined, but a lot of the cabinet are getting nervous about packing their parliamentary timetable with controversial issues after Iraq and the Hutton inquiry."

The Home Secretary is pinning his hopes of getting the scheme through parliament on the issue of immigration. He told the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme that he had no idea of the number of illegal immigrants in Britain at the moment, but hoped that an ID card scheme would solve that problem.

FIPR's Brown told silicon.com that he views Blunkett's pronouncement on immigration as a way of piggy-backing ID cards on the issue of the day, but doesn't believe it will gain him any more public support.

"The people that would be interested in those arguments are already convinced we need ID cards," said Brown.

It's thought that the card will carry details including name, address, passport and driving licence numbers, as well as a PIN and a biometric element and will cost around £3bn to roll out, according to government estimates. The substantial cost of the programme is also holding up its implementation, with neither Gordon Brown's Treasury nor the public likely to willingly bear the brunt of the cost - which could be up to £100 per card.