Territorial Extent
9.The Identity Cards Act applies to the whole of the United Kingdom. The ID cards scheme will operate on a UK-wide basis to deal with matters which are reserved to the UK Parliament, notably, immigration and nationality.
10.The Act allows devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland to make regulations making the production of an ID card a condition of providing a public service for which those administrations are responsible.
11.Any move for production of an ID card to be a condition of a public service which is within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament would require authorisation by an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
12.The Act creates new offences. As these offences relate to documents or databases that operate on a UK basis, they will be applicable throughout the UK.
13.The provisions relating to passports also operate on a UK-wide basis.