Clause 6 - Power of Secretary of State to require registration
Identity Cards Bill
3:45 pm
Mr Patrick Mercer (Shadow Minister (Homeland Security), Home Affairs; Newark, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 33, in clause 6, page 5, line 30, at end insert ''without reasonable excuse''.
This clause deals with the power of the Secretary of State to require registration. The amendment relates to subsection (4), which currently states:
''An individual who—
(a) contravenes an obligation imposed on him by provision made under subsections (2) and (3), or
(b) contravenes a requirement imposed on him under section 5(4) in connection with an application made in pursuance of such an obligation,
shall be liable to a civil penalty not exceeding £2,500.''
The amendment is a simple one. We believe that, after the phrase ''an individual who'', the words ''without reasonable excuse'' should be inserted. Why we wish to do so is fairly simple. Currently, the clause means that when someone fails to answer the compulsion to register, they will pick up a penalty of £2,500. Surely there must be reasonable excuses why people might not be in a position to register? For instance, if someone were on their death bed, would that be a reasonable excuse for not going along with this part of clause 6?