§ 24. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Minister of health if he will consider making an order whereby the date of birth shall be noted on the National Identity Card.
§ Mr. WillinkIf as I infer, my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind the entry upon each Identity Card of a date of birth which will afford proof of age in substitution for the existing birth certificate arrangements, his object would not be realised by the entry of dates of birth as stated by their holders either at the time of endorsement or on previous occasions. For that purpose the entry upon the Identity Card would need to be based upon the Birth Register; and some reorganisation of a permanent character would be necessary. In this connection, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply of 27th January to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington, South (Sir W. Davison), of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Sir T. MooreI think my right hon. and learned Friend has misunderstood my purpose. Is he not aware that this seems the only practical method by which police and welfare workers can determine the age of young girls and thereby save them from a lot of mental and physical anxiety?
§ Mr. WillinkIt is not as easy as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests. As I indicated by my answer, it would involve the tying up of the birth registration and the national registration systems.
§ Colonel Sir A. Lambert WardIs the Minister aware that a great many people, and particularly women, object to being compelled to disclose their age to anyone likely to see their identity card?