The take-up of ID cards in the UK has suffered a fresh blow with the news that both Accenture and BAE systems have decided to pull out of the procurement process.

ID cards in the UK have suffered a fresh blow with the news that both Accenture and BAE systems have decided to pull out of the procurement process.

Accenture, one of the government's central IT suppliers, told the FT it was pulling out for a mixture of "political and commercial reasons".

Yesterday it emerged from leaked documents that British citizens are unlikely to be issued with ID cards until 2012, falling behind the original planned date of 2010.

However, the Home Office claims six companies are still keen on bidding for the contracts, with the final list of suppliers being released in the Spring.

The leaked documents also revealed that teenagers will be targeted by the Home Office to take up the cards early. In order to open a bank account or purchase products like alcohol or cigarettes, teenagers will have to have the ID card.