Mr B Wilson

Email: [FOI #29572 email]

Reference: 14120/10

Date: 17 March 2010

Dear Mr Wilson

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Thank you for your e-mail of 23 February, in which you ask for information on Identity Cards. Your request for information has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000.

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

In keeping with the FOIA, 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 14120/10 ].

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 members of 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 FOIA.

Yours sincerely

H Reid

Parliamentary &Correspondence Management Team

Annex

I would like to enquire if there is any physical difference between the National Identity Card issued to a British citizen who is considered a "UK national" by the EU and so able to benefit from he freedom to move and reside within the territory of the Member States, and the National Identity Card issued to a British citizen who is not considered a "UK national" by the EU, so not able to benefit from the freedom to move and reside within the territory of the Member States (this would usually refer to British citizens from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man).

If there is no physical difference between the National Identity Card issued to either type of British citizen, I would also like to enquire how a British citizen who is considered a "UK national" by the EU, is able to demonstrate that he is indeed a "UK national" and so entitled to the freedom to move and reside within the territory of the Member States, and is not a British citizen who is not also a "UK national".

Where a British Citizen is not able to benefit from certain elements of free movement provisions within the EU today, an observation stating this is placed on a passport or an Identity Card issued to that individual.

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.

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Headquarters

Identity and Passport Service

Parliamentary & Correspondence Management Team

4^th Floor, Peel Building

2 Marsham Street

London

SW1P 4DF

Tel (020) 7035 8889

Fax (0870) 336 9175

Email [Identity & Passport Service request email]

Web www.ips.gov.uk