Can put in a guess as to what is going on here.

I can only think of one reason (other than idiots being in charge of the negotiations) why there is a break clause. This Government want these various vendors to stump up huge amounts of their own cash developing the ID card system on the promise of large payments on implimentation. This keeps the large ongoing costs of ID cards off the Government current budgets (and they are broke as it is without adding this costly project).

If this is the case, then of course the Vendors are going to insist on a break clause, even more so on such a controversial scheme and one whose timescale will be over the change of Government. Do I remember that we were not allowed to see the contract because of 'commercial confidentiality'. Could that have been a good excuse to cover up the expensive clauses they were signing us all up to?

The Government is quick to castigate the 'spend today on the promise of earning it tomorrow' crowd, but are just showing the way.