Identity cards will carry minimum information, Blunkett says

David Blunkett appeared to row back on plans for a national identity card scheme yesterday when he said he did "not want a revolution" over the issue.

In a speech in London, , the Home Secretary acknowledged the civil liberties fears surrounding the plan and said he personally would not be in favour of a card that carried extensive details of the holder. "I'm in favour of a fairly simple smartcard as opposed to a highly sophisticated card on which all sorts of information could be stored," he told a conference at the Institute of Civil Engineers. The Home Secretary also admitted there were "different views" within the Cabinet on the card scheme, costed at £1.6bn.

The cards could be funded by "a charge of £15 to £20 on top of the existing licence or passport", he said.

Opponents of the scheme, which is in the final month of a public consultation exercise, said it was a "waste of money". Mark Littlewood, campaigns director of Liberty, said: "Billions of pounds spent so the Government can snoop on innocent British citizens is money wasted. If the Home Secretary goes ahead with this ludicrous proposal, he will face trenchant opposition from across the political spectrum."

Mr Blunkett said the consultation process had showed support for the idea among older people and also among some younger people, who realised the value of carrying a National Union of Students card in gaining discounts on goods and services or wanted a means to prove they were over 18.

But Simon Davies, director of the pressure group Privacy International, said: "Mr Blunkett concedes that the Cabinet is split. Responses to the consultation are now running at least four-to-one against the Government's proposals."

Attempting to allay fears, Mr Blunkett said cards were unlikely to be introduced in the next couple of years but the technology might be available by 2008. "I don't want a revolution over this, I just want a sensible debate about where we will be in five or 10 years' time."

He said Parliament had the job of deciding what information the cards would carry. Specific legislation would be necessary if the cards were to carry information such as entitlement to social security benefits and access to health care, he added.