§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expenditure has been allocated for the(a) assessment and (b) introduction of identity cards in each year from 2003–04 to 2007–08; and if he will make a statement. [146009]
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§ Fiona MactaggartIn the current financial year, the Home Office budget for work on identity cards, which also includes work on shorter term measures to counter identity fraud, is £2.5 million.
Our current best estimates for the three year set-up costs for a scheme are £36 million, £60 million and £90 million. The timing of this expenditure will depend on Parliament's approval of legislation.