Identity Cards Bill
During the debate on the Identity Cards Bill, Brooks Newmark raises concerns that costs could overrun as has been experienced in other large Government IT system installations.
Mr. Brooks Newmark (Braintree) (Con): I am not satisfied that the Minister has answered the question asked by the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Glenda Jackson). The tax credit fiasco suffered from enormous IT overruns, and when the Government tried to fix them the costs went up even further. I wonder whether the Minister still shares the Home Secretary's confidence that he will not only hit the target of about £540 million, but beat it?
Andy Burnham: I do share that confidence. Let me develop the point that I made in response to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Glenda Jackson). It is not correct to say glibly that the scheme is directly comparable to the Child Support Agency. They are not analogous, and we are describing a very different function. Before hon. Members run away with the idea that the scheme is intended to encompass everything, let me say that it is a basic identification scheme that will hold biometric details.
Let me refer the House to the experience of the United States since 11 September. The US has introduced biometrics into their immigration system pretty much from a standing start, and they are now used for all visas around the world and for people going through US Customs control. Such schemes are workable. They are in use today. The British Government are increasingly using biometrics. We have progressively introduced biometrics into visas, and that process is beginning to be implemented around the world. A biometric is being used in applicant registration cards for asylum seekers, and we are seeking to build on such relevant experience.
