Home Office pops open ID procurement porkbarrel

Minister: 'Groundbreaking ... huge benefit ... can't wait for mine'

By Lewis Page, 9th August 2007

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The UK government has formally launched the selection process which will choose a contractor to run the controversial National Identity Card scheme. Details of the "opportunity" were posted online (pdf) this afternoon.

The Home Office Identity & Passport Service (IPS) said: "The procurement approach will select a small group of the best suppliers in the market for the required services. These suppliers will work with IPS and its partner agencies to deliver capabilities for the Scheme."

Home Office Meg Hiller told Reuters that: "This is a groundbreaking project, with the potential for huge benefits for individuals and for the nation ... As the Framework Procurement published today makes clear, we are committed to introducing the scheme carefully and securely, minimizing both cost and risk."

The planned ID card and accompanying database structure would be unprecedented, containing multiple biometric signatures for every citizen and potentially much more besides. Reports suggest that five contracts may be awarded initially, worth up to half a billion pounds each. The scheme is due for rollout from 2009, and would become compulsory in time.

Ultimately, we are talking of course about a serious amount of government green here. The Home Office - remember them - has previously said it will cost a piddling £5bn odd, while upstarts at the LSE have said £19.2bn is a more sensible figure. This being government work - and people having an annoying habit of breeding more people - an initial half a billion quid can surely only be a fraction of the riches the winning bidders will expect to make back in the long run.®

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Posted Friday 10th August 2007 15:15 GMT

Steve

Me To

Well, I'm a UK voter, I've participated in conversations and get togethers with some the No2ID chaps, I've lobbied my fat, lazy, pussywhipped MP for all the good it did, I've signed the petitions, and I do occasionally even provide informal technical advice and advocacy to people working on large government IT procurement projects for the relevant departments.

So fuck off, John A Blackley, I'm plenty engaged, thanks.

Fact is, so are rather a lot of other people with far more juice than me (like the LSE for a start), and it still isn't making any difference. The great unwashed don't vote, the middle classes don't think they have anything to hide, so swing voting by the concerned isn't going to have any effect.

Posted Friday 10th August 2007 12:29 GMT

Vladimir Plouzhnikov

Voting

"I would ask, nay, beg anyone who does not usually vote to use it to defeat this disgraceful legislation - if ID cards can be defeated, it will be the greatest gift you can give to yourself, your children and all future generations in this country."

I agree with that. Even the copyright extension (in no way certain) is a minor cost comparing to killing the ID cards scam.

Not voting does not do anyone any good, it's a head-in-the sand strategy, only useful as an excuse to say "I did not vote for them - I'm not responsible". Won't help at all when you are detained indefinitely because your biometric ID card has been cloned...

Posted Friday 10th August 2007 12:09 GMT

Brian Drury