THE national identity card scheme was in chaos last night as an M.E.N investigation revealed some of the country’s biggest travel companies are telling customers that they can not be used instead of passports.

Some 1,736 people in Greater Manchester have bought the £30 cards after the Home Office promised they could be used to travel in Europe.

But customer service staff at nine major travel companies – including British Airways, Eurostar and BMI baby – told M.E.N reporters posing as customers that the cards could NOT be used instead of passports.

Eight of the nine companies later issued statements saying staff had given the wrong advice – and that the cards COULD be used after all. But Eurostar remained unsure. A spokesman said: “We are unable to confirm whether the ID cards are valid on Eurostar at this time.”

Meanwhile two major German airlines said they would not accept the cards until they had been officially recognised by the German federal authorities.

The revelations will come as a major embarrassment to the Home Office, which has already been forced to water down its ID card scheme. The cards were originally proposed to be compulsory. But after a public outcry they are now being championed by ministers as useful for students wanting to prove their age – and travellers wanting to get to Europe without a passport.

The cards are being trialled in Greater Manchester before being brought in across the country next year.

M.E.N reporters contacted the customer service desks of 12 airlines and ferry companies, as well as Eurostar, asking whether they could travel to Europe with an ID card alone. Only four of companies – Ryanair, Easyjet, Brittany Ferries and KLM – said the ID cards were sufficient. Staff at Eurostar, BMI Baby, British Airways, DFDS Seaways, Stena Line, Sea France, Lufthansa, Monarch Airlines and Eurolines said a passport would also be needed.

Confusion

The confusion mounted when spokesmen for all the companies except Eurostar later issued statements saying the cards could be used after all.

Two airlines – German Wings and Air Berlin – said they would definitely NOT accept ID cards as travel documents.

A P&O spokesman said: “We weren't aware of the trial of these ID cards. The Home Office did not communicate this scheme to us. UK Borders Agency at Hull told us they weren't aware of the trial either.”

The Home Office say they told P&O repeatedly about the scheme.

Chris Grayling, the shadow Home Secretary, said the M.E.N's revelations showed the ID card scheme had become ‘a complete farce’ and should be scrapped.

A spokesman for the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) said “The National Identity Card is a valid document for travel and is as good as a passport in Europe.

“We expect all carriers in the UK to accept National Identity Cards for travel as a legal duty and we are confident that the vast majority of travellers will have no problems using their Identity Card as a travel document.”