Patrick Mercer (Shadow Minister (Homeland Security), (Assisted By Shadow Law Officers); Newark, Conservative)

I beg to move amendment No. 47, in clause 12, page 10, line 36, at end insert—

‘(1A)For the purposes of ensuring that an individual is able to comply with his duty under subsection (1), the Secretary of State must at least once every two years send in a prescribed manner to each individual to whom an ID card has been issued at his prescribed address a copy of the information recorded as at a prescribed date about that individual in the Register.’.

I trust that our debate on this clause will be straightforward, as we are unlikely to have enough time to discuss it in detail.

Let me explain the purpose of the amendment. Individuals entered in the register and carrying a card, or having access to one, should get the opportunity to self-verify the information that is recorded every couple of years. I understand, and would not wish to minimise, the cost implications. I know that the Under-Secretary will bring up that topic. I am also conscious of the fact that this information will be sent to every household—eventually, every individual will be part of the scheme—and that we will have to address the need for there to be some element of security when sending this sort of information through the post. However, to verify those details it would not be a bad idea—