Bill Kidd, SNP MSP for Glasgow, has criticised the huge costs of implementing the UK Government’s National Identity Scheme.

The overall costs of the scheme are estimated to be £4.8bn, or £5.11bn if costs associated with foreign nationals are included. For the Anniesland area, this amounts to a cost of approximately £5.4 million.

Mr Kidd’s criticism comes hard on the heels of an announcement, earlier this week, by Fergus Ewing, Minister for Community Safety. Mr Ewing, in his announcement, reiterated the Scottish Government's complete opposition to UK Government proposals for a National Identity Scheme.

Commenting, Mr Kidd said: "Rather than putting money back into the pockets of people across Scotland, the Labour Party in Westminster chooses to recklessly spend money on the National Identity Scheme, which presents an unacceptable threat to citizens' privacy and civil liberties, with little tangible evidence to suggest it will do anything to safeguard against crime and terrorism.

"In the midst of a deep recession, with more job losses announced nearly every day, it simply beggars belief that the UK Government is pressing ahead with its costly National Identity Scheme.

"This unwanted and unnecessary Scheme will take away £5.4 million from the Anniesland area – money which could and should be used to pay for much more worthy causes like more teachers, nurses or police officers or more schools and hospitals.

"The Scottish Government is completely opposed to the National Identity Scheme. The UK Government should take heed of this opposition and scrap this costly, ill-conceived scheme."

Notes:

1. The National Identity Scheme would see the introduction of national Identity cards for UK and EEA residents over the age of 16.

Each ID card will combine the cardholder’s biometric data with their checked and confirmed identity details, called a ‘biographical footprint’. These identity details and the biometrics will be stored on the National Identity Register (NIR). Basic identity information will also be held in a chip on the ID card itself.

2. The overall costs of the National Identity Scheme are as follows: latest official estimates are £4.8 billion, or £5.11 billion if costs associated with foreign nationals are included. Of these, £1.2 billion are costs which are specific to the introduction of ID cards.