Written question asked by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Wednesday, 28 April 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 17 May 2004. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Monday, 17 May 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what occasion and how frequently identity cards under the Draft Identity Cards Bill would need to be renewed.

Answer: Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what occasion and how frequently identity cards under the Draft Identity Cards Bill would need to be renewed. [169913] Mr. Browne: ID cards will have a limited validity, this power is provided for in the draft Identity Cards Bill. At present passports and driving licences are valid for 10 years and the cost estimates for the identity cards scheme are based on fees for cards covering a 10 year period. However, in advance of it being a requirement to register, there will be no compulsion to renew an identity card. Only when it is a requirement to register will there be a requirement on individuals, whose card will expire in a prescribed period or whose card is not valid, to apply for an ID card within a prescribed period. Different validity periods will apply in different cases, for example the validity of cards issued to foreign nationals will be linked to the length of their entitlement to stay in the country. Validity periods will require the approval of Parliament.

Secondary information