The government is expected to announce changes to its plans for the roll out of national ID cards in the UK today.

According to reports the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has hinted at a major change to ID card provisioning, suggesting that in most cases British citizens may not need to have the cards, and adding that they would probably be limited to immigrants, or workers in certain areas.

Migrants coming from non-EU countries would be expected to carry cards, from 2009, as would people working in areas where high security is required, such as airport baggage handlers. While it is expected that students will be coaxed into carrying cards from 2010.

Biometric passports are still expected to feature in government plans.