BBC reports government’s ID card plan announced by Home Secrectary Jacqui Smith:

Ms Smith confirmed that some non-EU migrants applying for leave to enter or remain in the UK, such as students or spouses, will need ID cards from November.

The aim is that by 2015, 90% of foreign nationals will have identity cards, she added.

From November 2008 non-EU nationals will have to apply for “biometric residence permits” or “biometric visas” and the biometric details will be entered into the national identity database. The government also wants all foreign nationals living in the UK to have identity cards. The government’s aim is that 90% of foreign nationals in the UK will have ID cards by 2015.