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Identity Cards Bill

The cost depends entirely on volume. We use experimental machines in laboratories and we buy in one or two. One reader costs about £2,500. As in the case of plasma televisions and mobile telephones, the costs will come down dramatically as the volumes go up. I am sure that the Committee will see that that will be the case. We were not very ambitious when we said what data the identity card should hold. I therefore ask noble Lords to reject the amendment and any return to the quill pen and the Bow Street runners. It would deny our security services the best possible system of identification.