Meg Hillier

The first identity cards will be given to foreign nationals from the end of November to help make it clearer if someone has the right to work in the UK.

We will start issuing the first cards to British citizens at the end of 2009, starting with people working in airports where we want to be sure of their identity for our safety. From 2010, young people will be able to have a card if they wish. In 2011, all British Citizens will be able to apply for a card or new biometric passport which will include fingerprints or, if they want, for both. The identity card will also be a valid European travel document.

Cards are important in helping to tackle real problems such as identity theft, securing our borders, deterring illegal workers and rogue employers, and making sure only trusted individuals are working in secure places such as airports.

Eight out of 10 British citizens hold a passport and have their details held on the passport database. The new database will be an updated version of that, including your national insurance number, up-to-date address and, on a separate database, your fingerprints.

The majority of people I have met during this consultation have told me they don't worry about the security of the passport database, but it is important that we grow that confidence by getting security right for the new database and by demonstrating how we are doing this.

Which is why later this year we will appoint a scheme commissioner, an independent arbiter whose role will include ensuring that the minimum amount of data is held. It will not be possible for people to access your record - rather, with your permission, your identity can be verified against the register.

Most often this would be a check to prove that the card is genuine. Banks already do this when presented with a passport, which currently requires a phone call - the identity card will automate the check and make it easier, quicker and more secure. For many purposes a visual check of the card will be enough.

There will also be strong physical and technical safeguards which have to meet standards set for our most secure databases.

Just as with passports, the cost of the scheme will be recovered from fees. The first cards for British citizens will cost £30 or less - the current passport fee is £72. Over 10 years we estimate the scheme will cost £4.5bn, already £1bn less than predicted, although around 70% of the total cost is for updating passports to meet international requirements.

As well as the significant convenience of cards, they will help tackle crime and terrorism by preventing the use of multiple identities. The use of fingerprints linked to pictures will make it impossible for someone to register twice using different names, so protecting holders from the growing crime of identity theft.

The Scottish Government has made clear it does not intend to use identity cards. But from 2011 there will be many in Scotland who will use the card as their main form of identification.

It will be for the Scottish Government to explain why it refuses to accept this official proof of identity. If passports are acceptable I can see no argument why cards would not be. Many organisations in Scotland may choose to use cards to save time and money and provide a more efficient service.

Identity cards are on their way and coupled with the security improvements for passports will provide a secure and convenient way for us to prove identity. This is in all our interests in keeping the UK safe and making life easier.