HC Deb 19 December 2003 vol 416 cc102-3W
Mr. Allan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts concerning the mutual recognition of identity cards. [142154]

Beverley Hughes

There have been no recent discussions with European Union (EU) counterparts on mutual recognition of identity cards.

There are currently no EU standards for the content and format of identity cards, and it is for member states to decide whether and how to issue them. However there is mutual recognition in the sense that valid identity cards issued by EU member states are recognised as travel documents throughout the EU, and also as proof that the holder is an EU national entitled to exercise Treaty rights in any member state.

Mr. Oaten

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the costs of the identity card scheme in the first three years of operation; and what proportion of set-up costs will be met from (a) charging and (b) existing departmental budgets. [144274]

Beverley Hughes

In his response to the hon. Member during his statement on identity cards on 11 November 2003,Official Report, column 178WS, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary set out our current best estimates of the set-up costs of the scheme over a three year period. These are £36 million, £60 million and £90 million, respectively. The proportion of these costs which will be funded from charges as opposed to from existing departmental budgets has not yet been decided.