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12 October 2006
The government has claimed today that the cost of its ID card scheme will be in the region of £4.5 billion over ten years.
It is the first time the government has given an estimate of the actual cost of the scheme, with opposition parties disputing the figure.
Last year the London School of Economics estimated the cost would be £19 billion.
Among the reasons for introducing the cards, which will contain biometric and iris scan details, is the argument that it will counteract the growing problem of identity fraud, which, according to the latest government figures, now costs Britain £1.7 billion per year.
The government has also argued that it will combat terrorism and illegal immigration.
Home Office minister Liam Byrne said: "ID cards will give us a powerful tool to combat identity fraud which underpins organised crime, terrorism and abuse of the immigration system.
The Conservatives oppose ID cards, with shadow immigration minister Damien Green saying the government had "lost the argument" on all these issues.
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