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Identity Cards Bill

My Lords, I hope I can clarify the issue in relation to ““uses””. The uses to which ID cards are put have a direct role in the two matters dealt with by government Amendment No. 77, which relates to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Clause 24(2), but not to paragraph (d). That is why in opening in support of my Amendment No. 77—we discussed this at some length and that is why I was reluctant to do it all over again—I said that the ““arrangements . . . for using”” in Clause 24(2)(c) would in this context include ““uses””. Therefore Amendment No. 78, which seeks to add the word ““uses”” into the government amendment which clarifies the scope of Clause 24(2) is particularly inappropriate. The word ““uses””, as opposed to ““arrangements . . . for using””, does not appear in the subsection which is being clarified. Our amendment relates to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Clause 24(2), but not to paragraph (d), which is why I say that it is correct. I absolutely understand noble Lords’ concerns. We wish to draw Amendment No. 77 with the appropriate level of acuity. We believe that we have done so, because it does not relate to paragraph (d). With that further clarification, I hope that noble Lords opposite and the noble Lord, Lord Phillips of Sudbury, will be appropriately grateful.