Post Office invited to bid for role - In ID Cards

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http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0d256a42-aadd ... 07658.html

By Jimmy Burns

Published: November 5 2008 02:00 | Last updated: November 5 2008 02:00

The Post Office is to be invited to play an important role in the enrolment process for identity cards as ministers seek to encourage broad participation of both the public and private sector, writes Jimmy Burns .

Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, is expected tomorrow to announce a "prospectus for market engagement" in which organisations with a "national high street presence" will be invited to consider bidding for contracts in areas such as finger-printing, application checking and photographing linked to the new biometric passports and ID cards.

James Hall, the chief executive of the Identity and Passport Service, said he would be "delighted" if the Post Office were to enter a partnership with the agency to help provide such services.

Ministers are expected tomorrow to say they plan to initiate talks in coming months with the Post Office and other organisations, including local authorities, and businesses such as banks and travel agents, on the setting up of a national network of biometric enrolment facilities.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008