Clause 8 - Issue etc. of ID cards
Identity Cards Bill
9:10 am
Mr Patrick Mercer (Shadow Minister (Homeland Security), Home Affairs; Newark, Conservative)
One wonders whether they were asked about other ways in which the money might be spent. I agree with the hon. Gentleman's point—most agencies have supported the identity card—but were they asked, ''If a certain sum of money is available, what do you want to spend it on? Do you want it spent on identity cards or on an extra 200 operatives working abroad—in Pakistan, for example?'' I do not believe that that question was posed and one wonders what the answer would have been had it been asked.