UK Home Secretary David Blunkett is set to press ahead with controversial plans for compulsory ID cards.
He's ready to support the move despite opposition from civil liberties groups - and the fact we'll each have to stump up £39 for one.
A leaked Cabinet letter revealed the Home Office had settled on a compulsory scheme of paid-for cards. Pensioners over 75 and 16-year-olds would get the plastic cards free.
OAPs up to 65 and those on benefits would pay £5 and everyone else would be charged £39.
In a letter to ministers, Mr Blunkett said: "I believe the case for introducing a universal identity card in the UK is overwhelming."
He said there was strong public support for a card scheme and a preference for the term "identity card" rather than "entitlement card".
He added: "We are strengthened in our liberty if our identity is protected from theft, if we are able to access the services we are entitled to and if our community is better protected from terrorists and organised criminals."
He admitted a "highly organised minority" would oppose the scheme, but said the Government would argue personal information on the card would be strictly limited.
The card is likely to contain information such as name and address and a fingerprint.
It would not be compulsory to carry the card, but people would have to produce it within a set period if challenged by police.
