Identity Cards Bill

My Lords, I support government Motion E—the first government Motion I have supported today. I accept that it is a very reasonable substitute for my Amendment No. 21. When I tabled it during earlier consideration of the Bill, when the main thrust of my argument was to leave out Clauses 6 and 7, I did so as a representative consequential amendment. At the time I appreciated that my resources in opposition were simply inadequate fully to list all the consequential amendments that might be needed. I certainly accept that the Government have found a much more elegant way of having a consequential amendment by introducing the new definition. It fully meets the needs that I had in seeking to remove Clauses 6 and 7. The Government’s Motion does not in any way jeopardise the change made to the Bill by this House’s acceptance of Motion D1, which retains Amendments Nos. 16 and 22. Therefore, I support the Government’s Motion.