As a side note (i am offering an idea to the UK govt. actually
) i remember having read in one of their ID card proposal documents that it will cost the govt. about £ 8 billion to implement ID card system.
I have an idea for them: Since the ID card system will be
compulsory for immigrants from next year onwards, why not charge every immigrant a price of about £ 4000 per ID card application and cover the entire cost in one go, so actually they can issue the British citizens (later on), ID cards for FREE! and claim that they have
somehow absorbed all costs and have done a free service to British citizens!
I think the legal immigrants can pay this (well, actually since it will be compulsory, they WILL have to pay it!)
After all, like they politely claim during every immigration service price increase proposal, this ID card system is to benefit immigrants to prove their legal status in the country... so why not they pick up this cost as well.
If on an average, there are about 2 million legal immigrants, a charge of about £4000 per ID card application will get them £8 billion immediately!!!!! (assuming my math is correct)
Yahooooooooo! Problem solved!
I think they should think about this ASAP and get this proposal implemented as well from 1st April