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Identity Cards Bill

That is interesting speculation. I will hire a committee room tomorrow and invite the noble Lord to discuss that issue with me. This will not be in the next Labour Party election manifesto. The Government are trying in this completely novel way to introduce compulsory registration at this time. There are all sorts of problems with it. Clause 6(1) states:"““The Secretary of State may by order impose an obligation on individuals of a description specified in the order””." What does that mean? Does it mean that it will be in steps: that, first, foreign nationals who are here for longer than three months, for example, will have to take out identity cards? Will the next step be that Muslims have to do so, or some other bloc of people within the community? The Bill does not suggest that the order will apply to everyone—it could be for a class of people. There are dangers in that. The clause then states:"““An individual who . . . contravenes an obligation imposed on him . . . shall be liable to a civil penalty not exceeding £2,500””." There is no question of intention or even knowledge on the part of that individual. If he falls within that class and fails to register, he will be liable to a civil penalty. As the Joint Committee on Human Rights pointed out, effectively a criminal sanction is being imposed. The use of the word ““civil”” should not deceive anyone at all. Orwellian these clauses most certainly are, and they are an attempt to obtain powers now that the Government would not dare ask for at the next election.