Clause 1 - The National Identity Register
Identity Cards Bill
6:15 pm
Alistair Carmichael (Shadow Minister, Home Affairs; Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)
I knew that there had to be a reason for that agreement, and the Minister gave it away at the end of his speech. We have had a good debate about the matter, which strikes at the heart of the Bill. We could have had a debate about the nature of identity, but thankfully we were spared one. Hon. Members made some good points about addresses and names, to which we should return, as they bear further scrutiny. When I was listening to the hon. Member for Newark, I thought, ''Here I am. Everybody knows me as Alistair Carmichael.'' In fact, on my birth certificate, I am Alexander Morrison Carmichael, Alistair being the Gaelic version of Alexander. My own son is also Alexander, but he is called Sandy. There are a number of people in that position, and I can see a number of difficulties arising from it.
The point that the Minister made about addresses is right. However, somebody with a second address may be asked, ''Why are you here?'' in relation to that second address, and if that information were included on the database it would be clear to the person making the inquiry that it was reasonable and legitimate for the other person to be there.
As my hon. Friend the Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale has already said in relation to paragraph (i), we have managed to survive without that right so far. I shall be 40 in two weeks' time, and I am happy to continue to survive without it.
The point about the information being accessed under paragraph (h) is more substantial. Additional rights exist under the Data Protection Act, and information is accessible with the payment of a fee. I am not entirely convinced by the Minister's argument that there is a requirement to include paragraph (h) to maintain that information about the occasions on which access can be made. I shall think about that point and return to it at a later stage.
We have had some interesting discussions about how reference numbers held by the Government can be used. I hope that the Government and the Minister's officials will consider that carefully. For those who know, a particular number will mean an awful lot more just because it starts with a certain sequence of digits. A policeman looking at a reference number will say, ''That is a number that relates to a serious sexual offence, or to a serious fraud investigation,'' or information like that.
There is still some merit in pursuing those points. Contributions have been mercifully brief and to the point. The discussions are gaining momentum, and with that in view, rather than kill the momentum by calling for a Division, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.