Identity Cards Bill

I am grateful for the Minister’s explanation of the Government’s position. She did not mention Clause 2(2), which deals with the Secretary of State’s power in relation to individuals of a prescribed description who have resided in the United Kingdom. In my view, that is quite a wide and important power. I take the Minister’s point about people who are here illegally. However, when she refers to just excluding categories from registration in subsection (3), I believe that there is more than ““just”” to it. I do not want to prolong the debate, but I have to say that the negative procedure has almost fallen into disrepute. I do not know when a negative resolution was ever not proceeded with. I do not think that there is an example of it in post-war history. It is literally a passport for a government to do what they like. That is why I am not happy, but I hear what the Minister has said.