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Lancashire to roll out identity cards soon
Identity cards are to be rolled out across Lancashire in the New Year.
From early 2010, anyone who lives and works in the county will be able to make an appointment to register for one of the cards.
The Government claims the 30 cards will provide a secure and convenient way for people to prove their identity, for example when they are picking up items at a Post Office depot or buying alcohol.
The cards can also be used in place of a passport for travel throughout Europe.
No exact date for when the scheme will come to the county has yet been decided.
The North West will be the first area the cards are rolled out in the New Year following a launch in Greater Manchester on Monday.
The cards will become available in Greater Manchester from November 30.
They are non-compulsory and available to people over the age of 16. The scheme will eventually be rolled out nationwide by 2012.
Identity Minister Meg Hillier said: "It's going to be held in different places so there'll be fingerprints and your picture on one database and your biographical information on another, which is I must stress just the same as what's held by the Passport Service anyway."
But Michael Parker, of pressure group No2ID, said: "It is clear the Government is pressing ahead with this even though it is going to cost an unfeasibly large amount of money and will make people less safe rather than more safe.
"You only have to look at the past couple of years, there have been leaks left, right and centre.
"It says a lot that the best line the Government can come up with is that it is convenient."
The scheme is believed to cost 5bn, although the London School of Economics has estimated it will cost between 10bn and 20bn.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
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