Mr B Wilson

Email: [FOI #29572 email]

Reference: 14120/10

Date: 18 June 2010

Dear Mr Wilson

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST - CLARIFICATION

Thank you for your e-mail of 22 March in which you ask for clarification of the response we sent you on the same date. We had replied to your request for information on Identity Cards and it was handled under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. I am very sorry for the length of time it has taken to respond and for the inconvenience this delay will have caused you. This has been caused by administrative oversight.

You requested that we clarify three points and I am now able to supply the further detail as set out below:-

1. Please describe the wording of this observation.

The following observation is placed on passports and was to be placed on identity cards issued to individuals from the Channel Islands if they did not meet any of the requirements `THE HOLDER IS NOT ENTITLED TO BENEFIT FROM EC PROVISIONS RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT OR ESTABLISHMENT'

2. Please describe where on the card this wording is placed.

The observation is shown in the remarks section at the back of the card.

3. Please confirm, is such a card (a card which is issued to British citizens who are not also EU citizens as the holder is from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man) issued as a "National Identity Card", or as an "Identification Card"?

British citizens from the Channel Islands have the Right of Abode in the United Kingdom, but do not necessarily benefit from the right of free movement for employment or establishment in other member states of the European Union.

There are certain requirements that the applicant needs to meet such as, being ordinarily resident in the UK for a continuous period of 5 years or more. If such requirements are met, the applicant would have been issued with an Identity card with no observations. If on the other hand the applicant does not meet any of the requirements, they would still have been issued with an Identity card but it would have had an observation on it.

As you will be aware, the Coalition Government has introduced the Identity Documents Bill on 26 May. If passed by Parliament, this will cancel Identity Cards and destroy the National Identity Register. This would mean that the card would no longer be valid for travel or identity verification purposes. Therefore, we are not making any new appointments whilst this is considered by Parliament.

Yours sincerely,

Diane Lambert

Head of Parliamentary and Correspondence Management Team

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