I am delighted to present a petition of more than 1,000 signatures that has been collected from around the country by Mr. Christopher Gill, Matthew Illsley and other members of the Freedom Association, an organisation of which I am proud to be a supporter. It declares:

That identity cards are in principle un-British and in practice will prove to be grossly expensive, utterly ineffective and intensely illiberal. The Petitioners further declare that if ever introduced in the United Kingdom, such cards and the accompanying identity register will have a disastrous impact upon law-abiding subjects seeking to exercise their traditional and hard-won freedoms.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons refuse to pass the Identity Cards Bill.

And the petitioners remain, etc.

To lie upon the Table.