Personal data gathered for the controversial ID cards scheme will be made available to the taxman. 

HM Revenue and Customs officials will be able to trawl through a person's financial transactions for hints of any undeclared earnings or bank accounts. 

The revelation last night renewed fury about the £5.5billion ID cards project. 
 
There was already widespread concern that the Home Office, police and security officials would have access to the scheme's database. 

But campaigners said handing information to tax inspectors was a sinister development. 

The powers that give 'Commissioners for Revenue and Customs' access to the ID cards audit log were buried away in orders laid before Parliament earlier this week - at the same time as the full extent of the expenses scandal was emerging.