Clause 28 - Identity documents for the purposes of s. 27
Identity Cards Bill
2:45 pm
Mr Des Browne (Minister of State (Citizenship, Immigration and Counter-Terrorism), Home Office; Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Labour)
I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman has been disappointed by the failure of his hon. Friends to come to his aid. In the spirit of his approach to the amendment, I think that I can respond briefly.
The term ''purports to be'' is a standard form of words already used in forgery and counterfeiting legislation, and the Government do not believe that it should be removed from the clause. Without it, documents that were forgeries and that were being used in the way that clause 27 criminalises would not attract criminal penalties.