Clause 45 - Short title, repeals, commencement,
Identity Cards Bill
5:45 pm
Mr Des Browne (Minister of State (Citizenship, Immigration and Counter-Terrorism), Home Office; Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Labour)
Earlier in our deliberations I listened carefully to an exhortation by the right hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon to use language that people understand. It seems that the people of this country clearly understand identity cards. Indeed, interestingly enough, the identity card scheme of 1939 was introduced under the National Registration Act 1939. However, I pray in aid the logic of the right hon. Gentleman: how many people remember that distinction? How many of those who carried that card referred to their national registration card, and not their ID card?
I have some sympathy for the argument of the hon. Member for Woking, and I understand the logic of his suggestion. However, the process involved an earlier consultation, and the response from the public made it perfectly clear that they understood the concept of identity cards. Now it would appear that they also understand the concept of the register to support the cards. It would be unnecessarily confusing for us to change at this stage in the debate. Much as I accept that the hon. Gentleman's argument is persuasive, I cannot be persuaded by it, and I resist the amendment.