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Identity Cards Bill

My Lords, I am grateful to all of those who spoke in the debate, which has gone on for an hour and 10 minutes. I note that not one speaker spoke in favour of the Government’s position on the matter. I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her response, but she did not address one of the arguments in my opening speech. I like to think that that was because she was unable to answer any of the points that I made. It is breathtaking that the noble Baroness ended her defence of the Government’s position by saying that they have a clear manifesto entitlement. If ever a matter was not merely not clear but rather clearer in the opposite direction has been made manifestly plain this afternoon. This is a very important matter on which the opinion of the House should be tested. On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 38) shall be agreed to? Their Lordships divided: Contents, 186; Not-Contents, 142