Identity cards to be scrapped within 100 days

The £5 billion national identity card scheme will be scrapped within 100 days, it was announced yesterday.

Abolishing the cards and associated register will be the first piece of legislation introduced to Parliament by the new Government.

Home Secretary Theresa May said the Identity Documents Bill, published yesterday, will invalidate all existing cards.

Card holders, who paid £30, will no longer be able to use them to prove their identity or travel within Europe.

The role of the Identity Commissioner, created in an effort to prevent data blunders and leaks, will be terminated.

The Government claimed the move will save £86 million over four years and avoid £800 million in costs that would have been covered by fees.

Mrs May said the Government intends to have the Bill passed and enacted before the August Parliamentary recess.

She said: "This Bill is the first step of many that this Government is taking to reduce the control of the State over decent, law-abiding people and hand power back to them. With swift Parliamentary approval, we aim to consign identity cards and the intrusive ID card scheme to history within 100 days."

Abolishing the identity cards system was a key manifesto pledge by both Tory and Liberal Democrat leaders. The Home Office began advising people not to apply for new cards within hours of the coalition Government's birth earlier this month.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "The wasteful, bureaucratic and intrusive ID card system represents everything that has been wrong with government in recent years."

The Prime Minister's official spokesman confirmed there would be no compensation for people who have already paid for ID cards in pilot schemes.

The spokesman said: "The number of people who have been issued with ID cards is relatively small.

"We have taken the decision not to refund them. Most of these people would have been aware that there was a potential for this scheme to be discontinued because it has been a long-standing commitment of the Prime Minister."

Mrs May said holders, overseas governments and border officials at ports and airports will be informed of the change as soon as the Bill gains Royal Assent.

Speaking at the Home Office, she added that the move was a "symbolic moment" to redress the balance between civil liberties and national security.

Mrs May said the Bill was a "first step" and accused New Labour of "trampling over ancient liberties" while failing to ensure the safety of the public.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said when the Tories were in opposition they warned anyone buying an identity card it would be merely a "souvenir".