David Cameron commits to scrapping ID card scheme

The Conservatives pledged to scrap ID cards but it was unclear whether or not they would scrap the National Register – the database behind the cards.

David Cameron recently made his position clear, committing to scrapping ID cards and the National Register.

The second question was, “David, when you scrap ID cards will you also scrap the underlying National Identity database?”

I can give you a straight answer. Yes – we will get rid of the database.

The database is going to cost a fortune to compile. Estimate something like £5bn over ten years I’ve heard from John Reid.

We think the National Identity card scheme is wrong, and the underlying database puts all the identity eggs into one basket, and we think it should go.

Clearly there is a need for the use of biometrics on passports for the future, and we can make that work, but we don’t believe in a compulsory national identity card scheme, and we think the national identity register- the money can be much better spent on other things and we’ve spoken about those in the past”

[the above is my transcript of the audio and it is as accurate as I can make it]