Members of the public who live or work in Greater Manchester can enrol for a national identity card from yesterday.
Appointments for members of the public to enrol their fingerprints have started at Identity and Passport offices in the city centre and at Manchester Airport.
Benefits of the £30 cards include their use as a simple and universal proof of age and identity. They can also be used to travel around Europe in place of a passport.
Statement from the Home Secretary
Alan Johnson said,'The many benefits of the National Identity Card can now be enjoyed by members of the public in Manchester.
'The first applicants will soon be taking advantage of the voluntary card as a means to prove and protect their identity in a quick, simple and secure way.
'It can be used by young people as a convenient and universal proof of age and as a credit-card sized alternative to the passport when travelling in Europe.'
Identity Minister Meg Hillier visited The Printworks, Manchester’s largest entertainment complex, today to meet staff and promote the new National Identity Card as a universal proof of age document.
Statement from the Identity Minister
'Greater Manchester has one of the highest populations of students in Europe.
'With research by the Identity and Passport Service showing that nearly ten per cent of passports are lost by young people on nights out and tough legislation introduced this month to clamp down on underage drinking, it will be more important than ever for young people to have access to a universally accepted proof of age.
'This viable alternative to carrying a passport has been endorsed by businesses across Manchester and by Greater Manchester Police.'
The Identity and Passport Service will now accelerate the rollout of ID cards across the UK. Citizens in the North West will be able to apply for a card early next year and there will be full national coverage by 2012.
