Results 1-14 of 14 for id cards speaker:Tony Blair

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (9 May 2007)

Tony Blair: The right hon. Gentleman said a couple of months ago that the way to deal with this issue was to say no to ID cards. He also said, "we are announcing plans for the development of a dedicated border police." Two days later, the shadow Chancellor said: "until we've made" a "study...we couldn't be sure it would be a serious proposal we could put in our manifesto." Better than that—who is...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (21 Feb 2007)

Tony Blair: ...undertakings that we have given. What is extremely important, however, is that we have such a register, because not only will it help us to tackle crime, terrorism and illegal immigration, but an identity card scheme, with the new technology available—and the vast bulk of the cost will be spent on passports, anyway—will allow consumers to access better private sector services...

Sessional Orders: Debate on the Address — [First Day] (15 Nov 2006)

Tony Blair: No, I have given up on that. It does not matter what the area of policy is, from the right hon. Gentleman's bizarre idea that youngsters should go on a booze course to find out whether they are fit to booze, to his opposition to ID cards. Is it still his policy to withdraw from the European People's party? We simply do not know. That from a Leader of the Opposition who said that the hallmark...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (18 Jan 2006)

Tony Blair: Because if we introduce an ID card scheme and reduce identity fraud, that makes a major difference to the costs of Government and the costs of doing business. In today's world, if we want to tackle illegal migration, crime and identity fraud, using the new biometric technology to have ID cards is an important part of doing so.

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (18 Jan 2006)

Tony Blair: First, if the right hon. Gentleman's concern is that ID cards will not be introduced quickly enough, he should work with us to ensure that they are introduced more quickly, but that is an absurd reason for not introducing them. As for the calculations made by the LSE, I think that I am right that, although the report was put out under the LSE's name, it was actually written by the leading...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (18 Jan 2006)

Tony Blair: I certainly can give a guarantee that the Government as a whole are absolutely behind ID cards—the Chancellor himself has provided the start-up costs. Why are ID cards so important now? Because we know, from all the available evidence, that identity fraud is on the increase—that is bound to happen in the modern world. Many people, including the former leader of the Conservative...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (18 Jan 2006)

Tony Blair: I totally disagree with him. I apologise for asking policy questions but the right hon. Gentleman's policies change so quickly—almost on a day-to-day basis—that sometimes it is a good idea to inform myself simply to keep up with where he is at any one time. With the greatest respect, he should think again about the matter. We will have to introduce biometric passports—I know...

Prime Minister: Engagements (19 Oct 2005)

Tony Blair: I am not going to base my answers on the right hon. Gentleman's pessimistic assumptions. ID cards are an important part of our manifesto. They are also an important part of trying to protect this country and to deliver a better way for people to protect their identity in the modern world. The reason why this is happening is perfectly simple, and it is happening in many other countries as...

Written Answers — Prime Minister: Warwick Agreement (5 Jul 2005)

Tony Blair: The policies agreed at the Warwick National Policy Forum, which range from the introduction of ID cards to the reform of public services and improving people's rights at work, are a programme for implementation over the life of this Parliament. We have already started making progress including, for example, consulting on a package of family-friendly proposals to be implemented by 2007,...

Debate on the Address: [First Day] (17 May 2005)

Tony Blair: ...misuse of drugs professional panel, and we expect to receive it in the next couple of weeks. If it advises us to change that decision, we will do so. If it does not, we will obviously have to consider that. However, I believe that the most important thing that we can do is to support the measures that we have already introduced on crime and drugs and the measures that we are going to...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (9 Feb 2005)

Mr Tony Blair: ...is right. It is important to realise that the cost of going to biometric passports, which we should do because other parts of the world are doing so, will be about £70. The additional cost of the ID card is only about £15. That is why it represents a sensible way of proceeding. In our view, identity cards, with the new technology that is available, are necessary in the fight...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (15 Dec 2004)

Mr Tony Blair: First, as we know in the House, this issue has been debated over many years, and compulsory ID cards will not come in for several years in any event. So there is a long period in which we can get this right—it is obviously important that we do. The point that I would make is that what has changed my mind on identity cards is that we now have the technology and, indeed, will effectively...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Engagements (1 Dec 2004)

Mr Tony Blair: The right hon. Gentleman is simply wrong on the costs. The ID card element is around £85 million a year, and that is spread over several years. Let me go back to the point that I am trying to make to him. In any event, because many countries—the United States, those in Europe and elsewhere—are introducing a requirement for biometric visas, it is important that we introduce...

European Council (Seville) (24 Jun 2002)

Mr Tony Blair: No, I do not agree with that. The issue of ID cards must obviously be decided by each country according to its merits. People sometimes say that the reason for the pressure on asylum here is the absence of compulsory ID cards, but let us get some facts straight. First, this country, if we consider it proportionately in terms of population, is in the middle of the pack on asylum applications,...