§ 2.53 p.m.
§ >Baroness Sharpies asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ Whether, following the six-month pilot study of a voluntary smart card, they have any plans to introduce such an identity card nationally.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bassam of Brighton)My Lords, a number of local smart card schemes for electronic access to public services are being tested but none is a pilot for a national scheme; nor do they represent any form of national identity card. Any decision to introduce a national identity card would need to be taken in its own right. Having considered the arguments carefully, we are not persuaded of the case for doing so.
§ Baroness SharplesMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply which is slightly more encouraging than the response to my previous Question on this. I have been pursuing this matter since 1993, so 1028 perhaps I am getting somewhere. Can the Minister say who was consulted in the last pilot scheme on possible voluntary identity cards?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, I am slightly mystified by the noble Baroness's reference. I am not aware of any consultations that are currently being undertaken. I am aware that a number of local authorities are piloting smart cards and similar cards which access local services. I asked my office to make contact with the Local Government Association this morning to find out how that was progressing. I am happy to continue to advise your Lordships' House on these matters. I congratulate the noble Baroness on her persistence in regularly putting Questions on ID cards at Question Time.
§ Lord Stoddart of SwindonMy Lords, does my noble friend agree that there are many in this country who are bitterly opposed to a national identity card because they believe that individual freedom is already at risk and has been undermined to an unacceptable extent?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, that was one of the considerations which focused the minds of Ministers when they considered these matters, and it was certainly a matter which weighed very heavily on the minds of the previous government when they considered the case for national identity cards, including voluntary ones. That is also one of the reasons which has been particularly persuasive in this matter.
§ Earl AttleeMy Lords, can the Minister explain why he believes that a photo driving licence will not become a de facto ID card?
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy Lords, the principal reason is that the purpose of a photo driving licence is to permit a person to drive a vehicle, having passed a test. No doubt it is a useful means of identification and is often used in that way.