9 August 2007
Responding to the Home Office's announcement that it is "inviting
expressions of interest from potential suppliers" [1] for the National
Identity Scheme, Phil Booth - NO2ID [2] National Coordinator - said:
"Today's announcement is more spin than substance. The Home Office still
hasn't released any specifications, so its figures are pie in the sky."
"If you bother to read the notice, it's clear that the only projects up for
grabs are for passports and visas [3]. We've heard this all before."
- ENDS -
Notes for Editors
1) Home Office press release, 9/8/07:
http://www.identitycards.gov
2) NO2ID is the UK-wide non-partisan campaign against ID cards and the
database state. Scroll down http://www.no2id.net for a list of ‘database
state’ initiatives that NO2ID is actively opposing. NO2ID is affiliated to
by the National Union of Journalists:
http://www.nuj.org.uk/inner
3) From the 'NIS Strategic Supplier Framework OJEU Notice':
"The Contracting Authority is authorised to procure Framework Agreements for
the purposes which have been described. The first two projects (the
structure of which may change) that are agreed for procurement under the
Framework are:
* The replacement of core Application and Enrolment processes for passports
and the provision of desktop infrastructure for IPS; and
* The replacement and upgrading of the existing systems for fingerprint
matching and storage in connection with immigration and visa requirements
and transition to the replacement service"
All other elements, including ID cards, are described as no more than
"potential projects" and are subject to both change AND approval. Hardly the
decisive leap forward suggested by today's IPS press release.
The NO2ID Campaign
Box 412
19-21 Crawford Street
London W1H 1PJ
enquiries@no2id.net
Tel: 07005 800 651
Press: click here
