§ 45. Mr. Clement Daviesasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the judgment of the King's Bench Divisional Court dismissing the appeal of Clarence Harry Willcock from a decision of magistrates concerning the refusal to produce an identity card, he will review in all Departments concerned the emergency legislation still existing so as to terminate such legislation at an early date.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)The emergency legislation still in force is already kept under review, so that powers which are no longer required may be relinquished without delay.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the Prime Minister aware of a statement made by the Home Secretary, I think, on 27th June last year, that the National Register and the identity card were both alien to the British mode of life, and, further, that he apparently went on to state, on behalf of the Government, that the then Minister of Health proposed to bring forward a Bill to abolish both the Register and the identity card—a statement made in the Standing Committee upstairs on the Maintenance Orders Bill?
§ The Prime MinisterI shall have to look that up.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWhen my right hon. Friend looks up that statement will he then consider the desirability of at least reviewing the identity card system, which is now being used for a variety of purposes quite outside the original reasons for which the identity card was introduced?
§ The Prime MinisterI think that is another question. There is, of course, a case for looking into it.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the Prime Minister introduce legislation to allow those who are convicted under emergency powers by county agricultural executive committees to bring an appeal to a properly constituted court? Why does not the right hon. Gentleman answer?