The UK’s first biometric identity cards will be issued in 2008, after the government’s victory in the House of Commons this week.

The initial plan was for the scheme to start in 2007, but the enabling legislation was delayed by last year’s General Election.

A revised bill was passed with a majority of 31 MPs on Monday, and will now go back to the Lords. Changes passed by the Commons include the production of bi-annual cost reports by the Home Office to allay fears of escalating costs.

If the bill receives Royal Assent in March as expected, the first of the cost reports will be published in September, said Home Office minister Andy Burnham.

The Home Office has been criticised for not revealing more details about the structure of the plan and its associated costs.

But Burnham says the department is not being secretive, and is trying to learn from past government IT disasters.

‘There has been pressure to put all our cost estimates in the public domain, but that goes against current advice on how government should run major procurements – we are trying to strike a balance,’ said Burnham.

‘Similarly, if the government goes out to the market with a highly prescriptive picture, we often end up paying more and not getting as good a product.’

Burnham says the department has already spent £32m on the scheme, including more than 18 months’ pre-procurement work by PA Consulting.

Once the bill becomes law, the procurement will start and the creation of a new agency to develop and administer the scheme will go ahead.

The government says the scheme will cut identity fraud, improve security and speed up access to services.

Burnham says ID cards could provide the key to effective egovernment. ‘The national identity register could be the missing link in egovernment,’ he said. ‘How can you provide public services when you can’t be sure a person is who they say they are?’