Students held to ransom by government’s ID plans

Conservatives have warn that students will be blackmailed into holding ID cards in order to apply for a student loan

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Sarah Clark

15 February 2008

Students may be forced into holding ID cards in order to apply for a student loan, Conservative MPs have warned.

A leaked Home Office document suggests that, from 2010, anyone aged sixteen or over may have to obtain the £100 biometric card to apply for a student loan or open a bank account.

The document reads: “Implementation of identity cards will be benefits led, with the first cards issued to individuals where there is the strongest national or personal benefit.

“We should issue ID cards to young people to assist them as they open their first bank account, take out a student loan, etc.”

The National Union of Students (NUS) has expressed strong opposition to the scheme.

James Alexander, President of NUS Scotland, told The Journal: “I don’t think it is fair that students should be singled out, especially as they are amongst those that are most likely to be against the ID proposal.

“Students shouldn’t be treated like guinea pigs and held to ransom if they don’t have ID cards. What’s more is it just adds another layer of bureaucracy to the student loans application procedure.”

The Labour government has previously claimed that identity registration would be voluntary.

The proposals raise concerns that the government is planning to collect by stealth the personal and biometric details, such as fingerprints, of the more than two million young people entering higher education each year.

Josh MacAlister, president of Edinburgh University Students Association, told The Journal: “Whatever your views on ID card themselves, I think everyone can agree that 'testing' them on the millions of students across the UK is unfair. It’s important to make it clear to the government that this won't go ahead without significant protest from students.”

Student representatives have drawn attention to widespread apprehension regarding the financial implications of the scheme. It is estimated that the proposal will cost every tax payer £200, with an additional £100 fee for an individual when they actually obtain the card.

Liam Burns, President of Heriot Watt University Students’ Association, was furious about the scheme.

He said: “What will ID cards cost? Around £80? And that’s even before a student has applied! Hardly in the spirit of widening access.

“If this holds tangible benefits for the system, and is not simply a way of embedding ID cards, then the Government needs to be open and lay their cards on the table for students' associations to debate and comment on.

“Even once that happens, I doubt very much our response will be positive – but let’s sort out exactly what they are proposing and why first.”

Opponents of the scheme have claimed that the leaked document is a desperate attempt to bolster a failing policy.

Jeremy Purvis MSP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary for Scotland, said: “I am seriously concerned about the impact this Home Office strategy could have on Scottish students. The Scottish Government must stand up for students and ensure this ID card plan does not impact on Scotland.

“Liberal Democrats are opposed to ID cards and fought hard in the previous administration to secure an agreement that that ID cards would not be required for access to devolved services. Student loans in Scotland are devolved and any suggestion that ID cards would be a prerequisite for accessing loans clearly contravenes this agreement.”

ID cards are expected to be introduced for foreign nationals later this year and were originally intended for issue to UK citizens on a voluntary basis from 2009.

From next year, the biometric cards will be introduced to people in "positions of trust," for example, airport workers.

The widespread rollout, known as the "Borders Phase II," whereby people applying for passports would also be issued with an ID card from 2010, has been postponed till 2012.