Identity Cards Bill

moved Amendment No. 194:"Page 17, line 2, at end insert—" ““(   )   It shall be unlawful for any person imposing any condition or requirement in relation to or on an individual in cases falling within subsection (2) to discriminate against such a person or group of persons on any grounds, including disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic or national origins, colour, race, citizenship or immigration status.”” The noble Baroness said: The purpose of this amendment is to focus on the importance of avoiding discrimination against individuals in the operation of the ID card system. Clause 18 says that we cannot be forced to produce our identity card in the so-called period of voluntary operation of the scheme before Clause 6 is invoked. Protection from compulsion to produce the card during that so-called period of voluntary operation is cut back by the terms of subsection (2), which sets out when we can be forced to produce the card even in the early stages of the ID card system. My amendment is directed at what happens when we are asked to produce our identity card—perhaps to prove our identity to the police or to obtain access to services. Surely, it is vital that those who require us to produce our identity card should not be allowed to make the decision of whether they should ask to see it or not on the basis of discriminating against certain groups. I have drawn attention to the need to avoid discrimination on the grounds of,"““disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic or national origins, colour, race, citizenship or immigration status””." There should be clarity about this on the face of the Bill. I beg to move.