Lib Dem's question government's ID Card estimate

2.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 10th Oct 2006

Nick Clegg MP

The UK's national ID scheme will cost £5.4bn to set up and run over the next 10 years, the Home Office says.

It is the first time the government has set out the estimated total expense for the controversial project.

Ministers claim ID cards will help in the fight against illegal immigration and terrorism.

Commenting on the Home Office's announcement that the national identity card scheme will cost £5.4 billion to set up and run over the next 10 years, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Nick Clegg MP said:

"It is difficult to believe anything the Government says about the cost of ID cards given that in the past they have either tried to hide the costs or spectacularly underestimated them.

"Given the Government's abysmal record on IT projects, such as the massive cost overruns on the NHS computer system, the public has every right to maintain a healthy scepticism about this figure.

"Identity cards will be expensive and unworkable."