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Identity Cards Bill

I support the noble Lord, Lord Maxton. The debate in the Scots Parliament was initiated by the Greens. In the course of the debate, Members said, ““We cannot stop this scheme, although we do not like it””. The Scots will have identity cards. I agree with the noble Lord, Lord Maxton, that, when the time comes, they will want them. But the Scots Parliament—not the Executive but the Parliament—voted that the cards should not be used to access services such as the health service, and it had the right to do that. So I agree with the noble Lord up to a point. I do not think that anything in the Bill prevents that happening. Personally, I do not think that it will happen when the time comes because people will gradually see the point of the legislation. So, to an extent, I cannot agree with my noble friend on the Front Bench, and I am sorry about that. That is my understanding of the debate that took place—I do not know whether the Minister has the debate in front of her. I cannot see any record of the vote but I thought that there had been one. I have read the debate and that is what was said.