UK Home Office minister Liam Byrne has told a Chatham House Conference that the country’s proposed ID scheme will place a publicly accountable power to protect identity in the hands of citizens.

In his speech to the Chatham House Identity Management & Global Mobility conference - sponsored by De La Rue Identity Systems - Mr Byrne argued that the scheme is a ‘21^st century public good’, and claimed that the government’s identity technology is destined to become an everyday part of life – but may need stronger parliamentary oversight.

The minister reported progress made with biometric checking for visas: “By spring [2007], we had checked the 10 fingerprints of almost 400,000 people applying for a visa for Britain.  By the end of this month, we’ll be checking visa applicants in 75 countries. Already we have found 4,000 hits against immigration databases.   70% were applying for visas from abroad, had already claimed asylum in Britain.  Many claimed in a different identity.  And nearly 1 in 10, we found was subject to removal directions.”

In a separate joint venture, IPS is working with the retail industry to standardise proof of age checks for sales of restricted goods such as knives, solvents and alcohol. Meanwhile, the minister revealed that further joint ventures are being planned with the Department for Work and Pensions and Government Gateway.