Following our previous article in January ("ID Cards Bill in crisis over cost") , which reported that MPs suffered their first major setback when peers voted to block the proposed ID Cards Bill until major concerns over the costs of the scheme were addressed, we can now report that the Bill was once again heavily defeated in the House of Lords on 6 March.

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Following our previous article in January ("ID Cards Bill in crisis over cost") , which reported that MPs suffered their first major setback when peers voted to block the proposed ID Cards Bill until major concerns over the costs of the scheme were addressed, we can now report that the Bill was once again heavily defeated in the House of Lords on 6 March.

In the previous defeat the main issue was over the uncertainty as to the proposed costs of the ID cards scheme. On Monday night, peers once again delivered a serious defeat but this time it was against the Government’s proposal to require everyone to renew their passports from 2008 in order that their biometric data can be registered on a national database. This proposal has been described as integral to the ID cards scheme since the Government wants to move to a universal scheme within the next five years or so- but this will only be possible if the database is extended gradually as people renew their passports. A central part of the process is the linking of ID cards with passports when they are issued and the first biometric passports will be issued this week carrying a chip with the holder’s facial details.

The defeat came despite warnings from MPs that peers should support measures that appear in Government manifestos. MPs insisted that the peers have no right to block the will of MPs and disagreed with the claim that the manifesto did not make it clear that the new passports would be mandatory and not voluntary.

MPs will attempt to overturn the Lords’ amendment next week. The Government had previously had support in the Commons and if the support continues, it would be possible to force the Bill through under the Parliament Act. This would of course cause delays and would be hugely controversial and it may be instead be more preferable to amend the Bill so that this is not necessary.

If you would like further information on the ID Cards Bill and how it is progressing (including where appropriate), information regarding the nature and the scope of the procurement process we would be happy to advise you.

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The original publication date for this article was 08/03/2006.