Who am I?

National Identity cards are being touted for London’s 16 to 24 year olds.
Apparently they will be able to tour Europe with it instead of using a Passport.
The reasoning for this is that this age group are most likely to lose their Passport while using them as ID.
Now the information kept for the identity card seems to be one most detailed available.
But why a card can’t be issued, as is with a driving license, with the passport.
Surely a card is cheap, costs are under 22p for each for a full colour photo ID cards in just 20 seconds, (info from Digitalid), it is the data processing that costs the money.

Also for day to day use is the full biometric data needed?
In most cases various agencies, institutions, and companies require proof of address and other additional information as well as the photo ID.

Now chaps and chapesses did you know that a UK photo driving license is only valid for ten years, the renewal cost of the photo is £20.
A Passport is also only valid for 10 years, so we must assume a National Identity card will be no different.

This is because we all look different as we age, some older, some younger and some “my god what were you thinking of?”
So we have a photo card with unbelievable information about you, with an on going charge.
Will extra information be gleaned at each renewal to protect us from another Government perceived threat?