ID cards: so much for confidentiality

The Independent: "Personal details of all 44 million adults living in Britain could be sold to private companies as part of government attempts to arrest spiralling costs for the new national identity card scheme, set to get the go-ahead this week... The opening of commercial talks contradicts a promise made when the Home Office launched a public consultation on ID cards in April last year, when officials pledged that 'unlike electoral registers, the National Identity Register will not be open for any general access or inspection.'"

Looking on the bright side, though, this should really help to mobilise opposition on the Labour back benches.

(Thanks to Cath for the link.)