§ 32. Sir George Mitchesonasked the Minister of Health whether he can furnish an estimate of the weight of paper that will be needed and the number of man-hours involved in the proposal to furnish every person with a new identity card?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am informed that the weight of paper involved in the re-issue of identity cards is estimated at 190 tons for the whole of the United Kingdom. With regard to the number of man-hours involved, the re-issue procedure now under consideration is so closely interwoven with the arrangements for the normal annual re-issue of food and clothing ration documents that it is not possible to estimate separately the man-power cost of the identity card re-issue. The arrangements as a whole are being planned with the utmost regard to man-power economy; and I am informed that the inclusion of identity cards in the re-issue arrangements involves a relatively small addition only to the man-power cost of the annual reissue of rationing documents.
§ Mr. NaylorWill the occupation of the person be included in the particulars to be given?
§ Sir Alfred BeitWould it not be an advantage if photographs were affixed to identity cards?
§ Mr. BrownThe hon. Gentleman will be aware that the matter has been discussed on several occasions, and that it has been thought, on the whole, better not to do so.