Identity Cards Bill

I think we have now abolished dog licences, but I take the point that the noble Lord has raised. I do not wish to delay the Committee, but the Minister’s claim that the words I quoted had anything precise about them was stretching language too far. It never occurred to me to accuse the Government of stealth in this matter. As guileless and innocent as I am, I was never so simple-minded as to believe that the Government would not eventually wish to make this scheme compulsory. That was clear to me at all times. I suspected, and I still suspect, that the Government thought that they might as well get the clamour over. They rightly foresaw that the Bill would not be to everybody’s taste, and therefore they decided to sweeten it, to put a bit of sugar on the pill so that everyone could swallow it more or less comfortably. Then, by the time they come to make it compulsory, the most powerful weapon they have—boring everybody, wearying everybody and tiring them out—will have had a chance to take effect. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendments Nos. 98 and 99 not moved.] [Amendment No. 100 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List.]