Smith to unveil airport ID scheme

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Workers at two airports will be used to test UK national identity card, the government is expected to announce.

The Home Office's delivery plan for the ID cards said they would be issued to airside workers at all the country's airports from the second half of 2009.

However, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is set to unveil an 18-month pilot at just London City and Manchester airports.

Airport unions have been resisting the scheme, saying workers would have to pay £30 for a card to do their jobs.

However, it is understood that the cards would be issued free during the evaluation period.

Voluntary system

The Unite union, which represents airport workers, has said staff are already extensively vetted before being given airside passes.

BBC News home affairs correspondent Rory MacLean says the home secretary's announcement would appear to be a step back from the original plan to require all airport workers to have the cards from next year.

The Home Office published its National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan on 6 March this year.

It said: "The first ID cards will be issued to people working in specific sensitive roles or locations where verification of identity will enhance the protection of the public.

"This will start in the second half of 2009, with the issuing of identity cards to those working airside in the country's airports."

Non-EU students and marriage visa holders will be the first to receive the ID cards this month, followed by airport workers and from 2010 a voluntary system for other people will come into effect.