Spare us from preposterous ID cards promotion - Huhne

Commenting on the Government's announcement that people from Manchester can now apply for an ID card as part of the pilot scheme, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"Where once we were told ID cards would fight terrorism, crime and illegal immigration, they are now being touted as a billion pound way of helping students get into bars.

"The discredited ID cards scheme should be scrapped immediately and ministers spared from having to come up with ever more preposterous ways to promote them."

Rosie Sharpley comments :" The Government is spending nearly a quarter of a million pounds a day to develop ID cards and biometric passports, according to research by the Liberal Democrats.

The figures, revealed in a Parliamentary answer, show that:

· Between April 2006 and September 2009, the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) spent £216.1m on future development projects for ID cards and biometric passports - or £169,092 a day

· Spending so far this year (2009/10) has been at a record high, with £42m spent in six months or £229,508 every day. In 2008/09, £81.5m was spent or £223,288 every day

· Between April 2003 and April 2006, the Home Office spent £41.1m on the ID cards programme - at a cost of £37,534 a day"

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"It is staggering that the Government is spending a quarter of a million pounds every day on developing ID cards and biometric passports.

"Such enthusiastic spending is brazen when public finances are under such strain and opposition to the scheme is mounting.

"Ministers should explain exactly what this money is being lavished on. It is no good to pretend they do not know what ID cards cost.

"Any taxpayer's money spent on ID cards is wasted - they will not fight terrorism, cut crime or halt illegal working.

"The Government should put an end to the ID cards fiasco and use the huge amount of money saved to put 10,000 more police on the street."