Stories about airside ID cards in today's FT and Daily Telegraph. Expect an announcement from Jacqui Smith tomorrow (6th November).
FT: Airport ID card scheme scaled back
FT.com / Home UK / UK - Airport ID card scheme scaled back
Controversial plans to make thousands of airport workers the first British nationals to be issued with biometric identity cards have been scaled back because of continuing opposition from the airline industry.
Ministers will announce tomorrow that the planned roll-out in the sector will begin next October, later than originally anticipated, and will be limited initially to an 18-month trial in two airports.
Manchester and London City airports have signed up in principle to the scheme after the government agreed to fund the trial, introducing the first wave of ID cards free of charge to the users and providing a further £500,000 towards improvements in pre-employment checks at the two airports.
Unions have voiced concerns about their members facing a £30 charge for an identity card before they can apply for an airside pass, while the industry generally remains concerned that the ID scheme will increase costs without bringing significant security benefits.
DT: First ID cards for Britons from autumn next year, Jacqui Smith to say
First ID cards for Britons from autumn next year, Jacqui Smith to say - Telegraph
Separately, it also emerged that only indigenous workers will have to have ID cards - the rules will not apply to foreign aircrew flying into and out of the UK.
Damian Green, the Tories' immigration spokesman, said: "This proposal is opposed by airport workers, and the fact that it will not apply to foreign aircrew flying into this country shows it is a complete waste of time and money.
"It will not make our airports safer, it will simply be another intrusion by a Government committed to building the surveillance state."
However a Department for Transport spokesman said: "People who work airside and have regular access to sensitive areas have their backgrounds checked before they are given an airside pass.
"Since air crew work on aircraft, they go through the airport in the same way as passengers do – including the same security checks – and so do not need an airside pass."
Anyone care to comment on that last DfT statement? Sounds like utter tosh to me. If a (say) Russian pilot doing a walk-round doesn't have "airside access", I don't know who does!