Clause 30 - Providing false information
Identity Cards Bill
4:15 pm
Mr Des Browne (Minister of State (Citizenship, Immigration and Counter-Terrorism), Home Office; Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Labour)
With all due respect to the right hon. Gentleman, who is a wordsmith, my understanding is that recklessness as an alternative to intention is a common feature of the criminal law, but I will check if I am still up to date. In my view, ''reckless'' involves the state of mind of a person who does not care what the consequences of his actions are. Such a person, in this context, ought to be as culpable as someone who intends the consequences. That is why the clause is drafted as it is.