To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in introducing identity cards; and if he will make a statement. (85527)

The Identity Cards Act 2006 provides the statutory basis for a national identity cards scheme and received Royal Assent on 30 March 2006. The Government are committed to the rapid introduction of identity cards but, as we have always made clear, this is an incremental process. Identity cards will be implemented in a phased way, starting with biometric residence permits for foreign nationals in 2008 and rolling out to United Kingdom nationals thereafter.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Answer to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Carmichael), of 15 February 2006, Official Report, column 2128W, on the cost of identity cards, how much has been spent in each financial year. (85645)

Total figures in each financial year for the costs of developing the identity cards scheme are as follows: