Written question asked by Chris Huhne (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 17 November 2008, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 20 November 2008. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 November 2008 on behalf of the Home Office.

Passports: Biometrics

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the effect on expenditure as classified in the (a) common passport and identity card and (b) passport specific section of the most recent Identity Cards Scheme cost report in each year between 2008-09 and 2017-18 if biometric passports contained just a facial scan.

Answer: [holding answer 20 November 2008]: It is intended that passports incorporating fingerprints will be introduced from 2012 onwards and applicants for such passports will be enrolled on the National Identity Register. From that point, common business processes and technology infrastructure will be used to register applicants on the National Identity Register and issue them with an identity card and/or a passport. It is not expected that the inclusion of just a facial image on a biometric passport would have any significant impact on the costs outlined in the November 2008 cost report.

Secondary information