Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Austin Mitchell (Labour), on Monday, 29 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 48 members in total.

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IDENTITY CARDS

That this House believes the Government should reconsider its proposals for national identity; emphasises that it is essential to be clear on the specific uses for which the card is intended; believes that present proposals are catch-all purposes rather than practical possibilities since it is impossible to combine an identity card, an entitlement card, a passport, a weapon against terrorism, and a regulator of immigration and asylum; feels that the Government should specify whether it should carry information about rights to work, pensions, benefits or NHS treatments; regrets the Government's efforts to stampede support by using fears of terrorism and asylum seekers, neither of which could be controlled by it, and requires a fuller explanation of what biometric information the card will carry, how the information will be stored, checked, and read, and whether and when new technology will outdate information or methods; in light of recent debacles with Government computer projects, warns that the same expensive mistakes are likely on a much bigger scale with a national ID card; and therefore suggests that the Home Secretary should place the proposal in a deep Home Office drawer, rather than an overloaded Government in-tray.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

213 

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Identity cards Personal records

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk