National Identity Cards

Lord Campbell-Savours Excerpts

Tuesday 5th July 2016 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Campbell-Savours]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration is being given to the benefits of introducing national identity cards in the United Kingdom.

[The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Keen of Elie) (Con)]

My Lords, the Government have no plans to introduce identity cards for British citizens.

[Lord Campbell-Savours (Lab)]

My Lords, with Brexit, increasing levels of immigration, concerns over international terrorism, personal security, fraud, voter registration and access to public services, do not advances in biometric detail data collection now give us a new opportunity to consider introducing identity cards? We need them now. We need them urgently. I believe that the majority of the British people want them. The Liberal Democrats can no longer block them. So why not have a rethink?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

My Lords, the Government’s focus is on enhancing the security of existing documents while at the same time recognising the direction of travel towards digital identities that may reduce the reliance on physical documents. Some 84% of UK citizens in this country hold a UK passport, the vast majority of which are biometric. Those who have immigration status in this country hold a biometric resident’s permit. It is not appropriate to sweep this away in favour of identity cards.