Thursday, April 15, 2004
What else could we buy for the £6 billion* cost of a national ID card?
Following the Prime Minister's announcement that a compulsory ID card is likely to be introduced swiftly, Privacy International proposes a "Top Ten" list of alternative ways to spend the £6 billion.*
1. Building 600 new schools @ £10 million each
2. Building 30 new hospitals @ £200 million each
3. Paying for 10,000 more police for the next ten years
4. Giving each of Britain's poorest 6 million pensioners and families a £1,000 windfall gift
5. More than doubling the total UK Gift Aid to charities and voluntary organisations
6. Increasing the total investment in new technology by a quarter over four years
7. Paying 75% of the funds required for urgent rail track upgrades
8. Doubling the combined budget for medical research and research & development within the NHS for five years
9. Doubling the budget for the Sure Start early education and childcare programme for eight years
10. Indefinitely halving the cost of Top-Up fees.
*This figure is based on the proposed £77 per card for 60 million people plus compliance costs, card replacement costs, back-up system costs, enhanced visa application and "non standard" biographical footprint checking that the government did not include in its estimates.
From Privacy International.
Following the Prime Minister's announcement that a compulsory ID card is likely to be introduced swiftly, Privacy International proposes a "Top Ten" list of alternative ways to spend the £6 billion.*
1. Building 600 new schools @ £10 million each
2. Building 30 new hospitals @ £200 million each
3. Paying for 10,000 more police for the next ten years
4. Giving each of Britain's poorest 6 million pensioners and families a £1,000 windfall gift
5. More than doubling the total UK Gift Aid to charities and voluntary organisations
6. Increasing the total investment in new technology by a quarter over four years
7. Paying 75% of the funds required for urgent rail track upgrades
8. Doubling the combined budget for medical research and research & development within the NHS for five years
9. Doubling the budget for the Sure Start early education and childcare programme for eight years
10. Indefinitely halving the cost of Top-Up fees.
*This figure is based on the proposed £77 per card for 60 million people plus compliance costs, card replacement costs, back-up system costs, enhanced visa application and "non standard" biographical footprint checking that the government did not include in its estimates.
From Privacy International.
