ensure that the Scheme delivers best return on investment. Not only are the benefits we have listed
above economically tangible, but it is also important to realise that much of the cost of what we are doing
would be incurred regardless of the Scheme. Specifically, biometric passports will soon be required in almost
all of the largest passport-issuing countries. Around 70 per cent of the cost of the combined passport and ID
card will be required to keep our passports up to international standards;