Identity Cards Bill

Can we go back to a question that I find difficult to get my mind around? The noble Baroness says that she cannot give a cost because that will impede getting a quote for doing the job. This is the first time I have ever heard such a thing advanced. If the Ministry of Defence is buying a battleship or an aircraft carrier, it will say, ““We estimate it will cost about X””. For any proposed programme the Chancellor of the Exchequer will say, ““We estimate that it will cost about Y””. Surely the Government must have an estimate of what the cost will be. Having estimates of costs before contracts are given is not a new idea.