ID cards consigned to history
ID cards have been scrapped by the government after the Identity Documents Bill received Royal Assent.
This means that all ID cards will now be cancelled within one month and the National Identity Register, the database which contains information聽of card holders, will be destroyed within two months.
Home Office Minister Damian Green said: 鈥樆使谔逵齛pp Identity Card Scheme represented the worst of government. It was intrusive, bullying, ineffective and expensive.
鈥楾hat is why the first Home Office Bill of this Coalition Government has scrapped ID cards and the National Identity Register.
鈥樆使谔逵齛pp Government is committed to scaling back the power of the state and restoring civil liberties. This is just the first step in the process of restoring and maintaining our freedoms.鈥�
Count down until the cards are invalid
Within one month, ID card holders will no longer be able to use them to prove their identity or as a travel document in Europe. A counter has been placed on the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) website counting down the seconds until cards become invalid.
皇冠体育app Identity Card Scheme and other biometrics work聽has already cost the taxpayer 拢292 million. 皇冠体育app Act has saved 拢835 million in planned future investment.
IPS will now write to all existing cardholders聽and inform international border agencies, travel operators and customers of the change in law.
For more information about the decommissioning of the National Identity Scheme, see the .