Identity Cards Bill

I absolutely understand the concern that has been expressed, but we have to consider the practicality of whether that is likely. Also, that presupposes that the people of this country would be minded to vote in large numbers for a serially repressive government, in the name of democracy. In this Bill, we have tried to put within the system itself sufficient checks and balances to constrain the way in which the system operates, so that it will itself be capable of maintaining the sort of openness, integrity and clarity that would enable Members of your Lordships’ House and the other place to bring those responsible for delivering this scheme to book and properly to interrogate these issues. If your Lordships’ House has demonstrated anything in the past few hours, it is your innate ability to do just that.