Nice analysis. I thought they might be up to something like this. I think it is quite telling that one of the suggested actions is "The Government needs to consider whether to continue using counter-terrorism as their
main argument for a national ID card scheme." Begs the question of exactly why the government does want to introduce cards so badly. Are they going to follow this advice and tell is it is to stop illegal immigrants?
I would be interested to see the original MORI poll, to see how much spin Detica, with a vested interest, has added.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3626853.stm

This man wouldn't be able to get a National ID card even though he is was born in this country. Does he not have the right to be in this country because he won't have the right paperwork to get a National ID card? Will the government create a special case for people like him? Will this be open to abuse by terrorists and illegal immigrants?

It would be nice to see the full MORI poll results broken down by the two categories that Detica themselves idenitied i.e. by the two thirds of respondents who know little or nothing of the actual Government Biometric ID Card proposals, as shown by the popularity of such ideas as "holding medical records on the card in case of accident", which is one of the things that has been specifically ruled out even by the Home Secretary.

John Lettice writing in The Register has interviewed some Detica people who also seem to be surprised at the ignorance of the general public:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/04/22/id_cards/

"Detica Head of Security and Risk David Porter agreed that the public was largely wrong in its view that ID cards would stop illegal immigration, and pointed out that the system is only going to be as good as the registration process"

I've yet to find anyone actually in favour of these cards. The few I-don't-mind-ers I've talked to, have changed there mind once they have learned about the cost and the fact that 'it won't be just sent to them in the post'. They are usually shocked to learn that they will have to go somewhere to be scanned.

Bill

MORI have now published the questions and how people answered on their web site at http://www.mori.com/polls/2004/detica-top.shtml