Identity Cards Bill
10:30 am
Edward Garnier (Shadow Minister, (Assisted By Shadow Law Officers); Harborough, Conservative)
I was certainly not dead during our first discussions and I do not remember, alive as I was, an extended discussion of how people could be dead. The hon. Gentleman's intervention is unworthy. I see that he has tabled some amendments that we will come to later in our proceedings, and I hope that we shall have adequate time to discuss them. I am sure that he would be most disappointed if we did not have that time.
The Minister said that this debate was three years old, but that is hardly the point. Lots of things of interest to the public that affect public policy and how we deal with legislation in this House are not new ideas. Very little that this Government have thought of has been a new idea, and all items of legislation, particularly at the Home Office, take time to gestate. We have to realise that this is a new Bill in a new Parliament and a new Standing Committee. We are perfectly entitled to fulfil our duties as Members of Parliament and members of this Committee to scrutinise this legislation. Although it is not incorrect for the Minister to say that this Bill is a descendant of one that has previously been discussed, that is beside the point.