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January 30, 2006
UK ID Cards
fresh from the bbc news web site:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4659228.stm
ID cards are of 'limited value'
Charles Clarke and ID card
Home Secretary Charles Clarke backs the plan
ID cards would be of "limited value" against terror and would not have prevented the London attacks in July, says the reviewer of anti-terror laws.
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Carlile said he had changed his mind on identity cards, which he had previously backed.
"I can't think of many terrorist incidents, in fact I can think of very few... that ID cards would have brought to an earlier end," he told GMTV.
The bill introducing the ID cards plan is currently going through Parliament. It recently suffered two defeats in the Lords, with peers wanting an entirely voluntary scheme, and ministers wanting people applying for new passports and driving licences to be obliged to go on the ID card register.
"ID cards could be of some value in the fight against terrorism but they are probably of quite limited value," Lord Carlile told GMTV's Sunday programme.
What are ID Cards? here's a good primer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4630045.stm
"The government says it would give people a convenient way of proving their identity, prevent identity theft and offer a secure way of identifying people for national security, detecting crime, enforcing immigration controls, preventing illegal working and providing public services."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4053453.stm
"Details could also be given without consent to police, intelligence agencies, customs and tax authorities and certain government departments for preventing and detecting serious crime, ensuring national security, investigating benefits fraud and protecting Britain's "economic well-being"."
And a great Q&A is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3127696.stm
Posted by msantram at January 30, 2006 05:02 AM