E-Passport flaws highlight ID concerns

4.48.08pm GMT Thu 8th Feb 2007

A National Audit Office report, which identifies technological flaws in the £440m Home Office e-Passports project raises serious concerns about the workability of ID cards, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Candidate for Cardiff West, Alison Goldsworthy, has said.

The cost of renewing a passport has been increased from £51 to £66 to pay for the introduction of e-Passports, which include a digital photograph and biographical details held on a microchip which is read by an electronic scanner at immigration control. However, the National Audit Office identify that the microchips in 3 million passports, which are supposed to be valid for 10 years, only carry a 24-month warranty.

"Once again Labour's fascination with whizz-bang technological solutions appears to be running well ahead of what that technology is really able to do," said Alison Goldsworthy.

"The National Audit Office (NAO) has said that the microchips in Britain's new ePassports only have two-year warranties. When you remember that a passport has a 10 year life, this is a considerable problem. Not only that, but there is clear evidence that the personal information in the chips is not secure. Anyone with the right equipment can access it as the passport holder walks past."

"If Labour can't get this right, why should we believe they can launch an immeasurably more complex ID card database? Our need for better security is better met by more police and intelligence officers, not a bit of plastic."