The estimated runningcost of a new national identity card scheme has risenagain to £5.8bn over10 years-a 5.5 per cent increase since the previous cost-benefit analysis by the Home Office six months ago.

The increase means that the estimated unit cost of each card has risen from £88 to £93, although the fee charged to the public has not yet been decided. It is likely to be lower for some less well-off groups.