The government’s ID card procurement will go ahead slightly later than planned so it can benefit from the ‘clear air’ of a new prime minister, say sources.

The formal procurement notice published by the Identity and Passport Service last week says tendering for framework deals for the national biometric ID plan is expected to begin around June. Earlier plans anticipated an April or May start.

The process has been delayed to fit in with the publication of a Treasury-commissioned report on potential private sector uses of the scheme, which has itself been deferred to fit in with the change of prime minister.

The report, by former HBOS chief executive Sir James Crosby, was expected to be published with last month’s Budget but the wide-ranging recommendations are being held back because the government plans to use them as a firm basis for future policy.

‘The plan is to wait so they can be launched into clear political air,’ said a senior source.