HC Deb 24 February 1942 vol 378 c24
55. Major Procter

asked the Minister of Health whether, in order to make it increasingly difficult for people to avoid their responsibilities so far as National Service is concerned, he will consider altering the present system of national registration so that all identity cards should include a photograph of the person to whom they relate together with details of his or her occupation and liability for national or military servcie?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Miss Horsbrugh)

The obstacles to the inclusion in all identity cards of the holder's photograph have been fully stated, in reply to previous Parliamentary questions, by my right hon. Friend and his predecessor. The other particulars mentioned are unsuitable for inclusion in a document of identity, and, so far as deemed necessary by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour and National Service, would seem more appropriate in the certificates issued by his Department in the course of National Service administration. The national registration system has, however, been contributing to the enforcement of compulsory national service, ever since its institution, by other more appropriate and, we believe, more effective means.