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Government confirms ID partner

Kable

Published: 25 May 2004 13:25 BST

The UK's ID card programme now has its private-sector development partner in place, the Home Secretary has announced.

David Blunkett has confirmed that PA Consulting is to act as the "development partner" on the UK's ID card programme.

The company, which has experience working with the Passport Service, beat off a challenge from Deloitte last week and has now secured its contract with the Home Office.

The contract covers the design, feasibility testing, business case and procurement elements of the programme, which is to receive regular reviews from the Office of Government Commerce.

"This is an ambitious, long-term project, which will be introduced incrementally over a number of years. We are determined to get it right, and bringing in expertise from outside Government at this early stage will help us do that," Blunkett said on 24 May, 2004.

"Experience from previous projects has shown that early detailed work on feasibility and testing reduces the risks and increases success. Our work with our development partner is one of the key parts of our programme of work leading to the issuing of the first identity cards from 2007/8."

The Home Office had talks with suppliers the same day it announced the development partner contract. After the meeting, John Higgins director general of industry body Intellect said:

"This is the beginning of the process, but it is already clear that success will only be achieved if open dialogue with industry is maintained. Only through a comprehensive understanding of the industry, its capacity and its capabilities will the Government be in a position to develop an IDs card scheme capable of delivering on its promises to citizens."