Identity Cards

Part of Opposition Day — [15th Allotted Day] – in the House of Commons at 7:42 pm on 6 July 2009.

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Photo of Christopher Huhne Christopher Huhne Shadow Home Secretary 7:42, 6 July 2009

I am grateful to the Home Secretary for giving way again, but I am slightly astonished by that reply. He has just announced a change in policy as regards airside workers, for whom identity cards were to have been compulsory. The key point that Chris Grayling makes, which I think is absolutely correct, is that as soon as we make the scheme voluntary, we spread the substantial overhead cost of the scheme among fewer and fewer people. One then cannot raise the amount of money that one expected, and the cost to the Exchequer is substantially higher. The risk of the cost to the Exchequer will be dramatic. What does the Treasury think about that?