World -UK;Roll out of ID Card scheme

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: The British government on Tuesday rolled out its controversial biometric identity cards scheme for non-European foreign nationals starting with students and foreign spouses of British citizens.

The Home Office said it expected all new foreign nationals and those extending their stay to have a card within three years. Those who do not have a card will be regarded as illegal immigrants and prosecuted.

“Identity cards will be mandatory for all foreign nationals and provide a simple secure means of proving a foreign national’s right to work to businesses. Companies will have to keep records of the migrants they have sponsored — including their contact details and a copy of their identity card,” it said.

Originally, it was planned to make ID cards compulsory for all British citizens, but following widespread opposition, including from a majority of Labour MPs, the government has decided to make a start with non-EU foreign nationals in what has been described as a “softening up” exercise before it is eventually extended to everyone.

The scheme has been widely criticised for being “too intrusive,” besides costing millions of pounds in taxpayers’ money. The government has been accused of using foreign nationals as “guinea pigs.”

Meanwhile, the second phase of the new points-based immigration system will come into force on Thursday.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: “The first identity cards for foreign nationals along with the launch of tiers 2 and 5 of the points system demonstrate our commitment to preventing immigration abuse and protecting the prosperity of the U.K.

“In time identity cards for foreign nationals will replace paper documents and give employers a safe and secure way of checking a migrant’s right to work and study in the U.K.

“The Australian-style points system will ensure only those we need — and no more — can come here.”