The Government has been accused of introducing identity cards by stealth after it was revealed the first of the controversial IDs will be issued early next year.

Workers in sensitive jobs will be required to apply for the compulsory cards in 2009, despite the Home Office postponing the overall scheme until 2012.

Some 100,000 British airport staff and others working in sensitive locations are expected to be affected by the move.

It is thought that "airside" workers including airline staff, baggage handlers as well as workers in duty-free shops, bars and cafes would all have to apply.

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Shadow home secretary David Davis said: "It is inconceivable that these workers would not already have full ID verification.

"Therefore the question has to be will this add to airport security or is it a way of getting the British public used to an ID card by stealth - despite an explicit promise from a former home secretary that this programme would not be rolled out in a compulsory fashion without a vote in the House of Commons."

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith today unveiled a new "two-step" strategy that will see the scheme start in November this year for non-European foreign nationals.

Categories most at risk of abuse, including those seeking to enter the UK, stay here as a student or via a marriage visa will be the first to be asked to provide their biometric details.

Then next year, the scheme will be extended to UK citizens, starting with "people working in positions of trust" - namely 100,000 airport workers.

Airports, which already carry out strict security checks on employees, are expected to have to meet the £3 million cost themselves.

A year later, youngsters opening bank accounts or taking out student loans will be asked to apply for cards, meaning many parents will end up footing the bill.

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