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Identity Cards Bill

moved Amendment No. 188:"Page 14, line 10, leave out paragraphs (a) to (c) and insert ““one of either an ID card or other evidence of his identity””" The noble Lord said: I shall speak also to Amendments Nos. 189 to 191. Clause 15(1) deals with the power to make public services conditional on identity checks. Amendment No. 188 would ensure that the regulations to allow that cannot make it possible for a citizen to have to produce an ID card and other evidence of registrable facts about himself. That is wholly unnecessary. One or the other is fair enough. That is what Amendment No. 188 addresses. I do not propose to proceed with Amendment No. 189 in this group. Amendment No. 190 relates to Clause 15(2), which prevents a public authority denying a public service to somebody where that service is provided free of charge. The amendment adds, ““or on a subsidised basis””. I am thinking, for example, of the provision of medicines where there is a prescription charge. It ought not to be possible for somebody to go to the chemist and be denied the provision of medicaments simply because they are not free. That is what Amendment No. 190 addresses. Amendment No. 191 amends Clause 15. It simply alters the wording of the clause. As it is drafted, one needs to have the words that the amendment inserts into line 23. At the moment, the subsection states:"““Nothing in this section authorises the making of regulations the effect of which would be to require an individual . . . to produce such a card otherwise than for purposes connected with an application by him for the provision of a public service””." I suggest that all one needs to add is, ““to produce such a card at any time””. I beg to move.