Mr J Clift

Email: [FOI #28415 email]

Reference: FOICR 13956/10

Date: 5 March 2010

Dear Mr Clift

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your e-mail of 4 February, in which you ask for information about the National Identity Scheme. Your request has been handled as a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I am able to disclose the information set out in the enclosed Annex.

In keeping with the Freedom of Information Act, we assume that all information can be released to the public unless it is exempt. In line with normal practice we are therefore releasing the information which you requested via the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) website.

I hope that this information meets your requirements. I would like to assure you that we have provided you with all relevant information that IPS holds.

If you are dissatisfied with this response you may request an independent internal review of our handling of your request by submitting a complaint within two months to the address below, quoting reference FOICR 13956/10.

Information Access Team

Home Office
Ground Floor, Seacole Building

2 Marsham Street

London SW1P 4DF

e-mail: [email address]

As part of any internal review the Department's handling of your information request will be reassessed by staff who were not involved in providing you with this response. Should you remain dissatisfied after this internal review, you would have a right of complaint to the Information Commissioner as established by section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act.

H Reid

Parliamentary &Correspondence Management Team

Annex

On Thursday 4 February 2010, as reported by Lords Hansard, Lord West stated that:
    
"Since 20 October 2009, and up to and including 23 January 2010, over 4,300 applicants have been enrolled or have made an enrolment appointment for an identity card. Of these applicants over 3,000  have been issued with a national identity card."
    

1) Please could you tell me how many of those enrolled on the
register during that period were EU or EEA citizens who don't also
have British Citizenship.

Between 20 October 2009 until 23 January 2010 41 EU/EEA citizens were enrolled on to the National Identity Register.

    
2) Of the above, how many have been issued with the Identification
Card (the one that is "not a travel document").

32 Plain (Identification cards) were printed.

3) Assuming any cards have been issued, is the picture of the
Identification Card on your 'Types of identity card' page:
    
http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ips_live/hs.xsl/968.htm
    
an accurate reproduction of the card being issued (it includes the word "TEST", which suggests it might not have been the final design that you went with)

The picture of the Identification Card on our website is an accurate representation of the card. It includes the words "Test" and "Specimen" to indicate that it is a representation of the card and not a 'live' card that has been issued.

4) If you have not issued any of these card yet, when do you expect to start?

IPS has already started to issue Identity Cards. You may find the attached link useful for further information on the National Identity Service:- http://www.ips.gov.uk/cps/rde/xchg/ips_live/hs.xsl/963.htm

Passport Adviceline: 0300 222 0000 (07.00 - 23.00 seven days a week).

Email us at [Identity & Passport Service request email]. Visit our website at www.ips.gov.uk.

2

Headquarters

Identity and Passport Service

Parliamentary & Correspondence Management Team

4^th Floor, Peel Building

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

Tel (0207) 035 8889

Fax (0870) 336 9175

Email [Identity & Passport Service request email]

Web www.ips.gov.uk