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Identity Cards Bill

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Earl, Lord Northesk, for drawing the European Union directive on technical standards to my attention a second time. The amendments under consideration now were proposed but not moved in Committee and I commented on their substance when I wrote to the noble Baroness, Lady Anelay, on 11 January. Therefore, I am pleased to provide a fuller answer now. We do not consider that the directive is relevant to the Bill now under consideration. It is intended to promote the smooth functioning of the internal market, as the noble Earl knows, and relates to national initiatives for the establishment of technical standards or regulations. The Bill sets out no such standards. I am sure your Lordships are aware that Article 1(9) of the directive specifically excludes public procurement tender specifications. The identity cards programme is currently engaged in preparations for the public procurement exercise that will be carried out according to the relevant European Union requirements for procurement. It is possible that some of the detailed secondary legislation to be drawn up during the implementation of the scheme may engage the provisions of the directive, which is something that we shall examine carefully. However, should that be the case, I am happy—delighted, I should say—to assure the noble Earl that the due process required by the directive will be complied with. For those reasons, I hope that he will feel content to withdraw his amendment.