The Identity Documents Bill received Royal Assent on the 21st December 2010 which means that United kingdom Identity Cards will be scrapped.
All ID cards will be cancelled within one month and the National Identity Register, the database which contains the biographic information and biometric fingerprint data of card holders, will be physically destroyed within two months.
Home Office Minister Damian Green commented that "The Identity Card Scheme represented the worst of government. It was intrusive, bullying, ineffective and expensive. The 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."
The Identity Card Scheme and associated work around biometrics has already cost the taxpayer £292 million. Cancelling identity cards will save the taxpayer around £86m over the next four years once one-off costs like decommissioning costs, contract termination and asset write-offs are taken into account. Planned future investment set out in the National Identity Service Cost Report 2009 of £835 million up to 2019 will be stopped.
All existing cardholders will be notified in writing and the Identity and Passport Service will now inform international border agencies, travel operators and customers of the change in law.
Read More: IPS - Identity cards consigned to history by the Coalition Government
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