---

Identity Cards Bill

It depends on how you look at it. I never wanted identity cards in the first place. If people are to have them and they are to be imposed upon them, I do not see why they should be put under the dual disadvantage of having to pay for them. It is not as if they wanted ID cards; and a requirement to look after them will be placed on people by the Government and by Parliament, not at people’s request, but because the Government think for spurious reasons that we should have a compulsory identity cards scheme in due course. That is what worries me. We are being asked to pay far too much for far too many things that the people do not want but that the Government are imposing on them. I hope that the noble Lord would agree with that. I am sure that the Conservative Party would agree that too many rules, regulations and impositions are being placed on people. To make them pay for it as well adds insult to injury.