Tony Blair has dismissed claims about the cost of identity cards, saying the planned legislation is "an idea whose time has come".
At his monthly Downing Street press conference, Mr Blair said he was "confident" the Identity Cards Bill would make it through Parliament.
MPs will vote on the second reading of the Bill in the Commons tomorrow, and there have been predictions of a Labour backbench rebellion.
"The next few years are going to see effectively a visa and passport revolution across the EU and the developed world," said Mr Blair.
"We have the chance to use this opportunity to get ahead in this change and the move, therefore, to biometric passports makes identity cards an idea whose time has come."

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