News

3M's security printing arm has been appointed by the government as the production partner in the first phase of its ID cards scheme.

Security Printing and Systems (SPSL), based in Manchester, was bought by 3M two years ago and already produces the UK’s biometric passport. It will produce the cards for the government’s upcoming National Identity Scheme.

The first of the biometric cards will be issued from late 2009 to people employed in sensitive roles or locations where identity assurance is important to public protection, such as airport staff working airside.

From 2010, identity cards will be available on a voluntary basis to young people. The enrolment of British citizens in bigger numbers is planned to start from 2011/12, when everyone will have the choice of receiving a separate identity card, passport or both.

It may become compulsory for everyone over the age of 16 to carry an ID card.
A spokesman for the Identity and Passport Service (IPS), which is running the scheme, told PrintWeek that the value of SPSL’s contract would depend on how many critical workers the cards were rolled out to, but would be in the region of “a few million pounds”.

3M declined to comment on the processes involved in the manufacture of the cards but said that high security measures would be employed for data protection.

Bill Crothers, executive director at IPS, said: “The announcement is a major milestone in the work we are doing to make the National Identity Scheme a reality.

“I am confident our chosen supplier has the capability to help deliver a solution that will create a universal and simple proof of identity which brings real benefits. This contract is both innovative and protective of the public purse.

“We have worked with our suppliers in an open and transparent way throughout the procurement establishing the foundation for positive long-term relationships.”

Five IT suppliers are also battling it out to secure a contract with IPS to provide the IT infrastructure for the scheme. The competition, involving CSC, EDS, Fujitsu, IBM and Thales, will start within the next month.