§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the use of identity cards in the war period, the present use of identity cards in other member States of the European Economic Community and to the discussion of identity cards by Ministers in debates on the prevention of terrorism legislation, when the argument was of practicality rather than principle, he will clarify the Government's objections of principle, as 120W opposed to practicality, to a universal issue of identity documents.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesA requirement to carry and produce identity documents would be distasteful to many people in this country, and would need very strong justification. I am not persuaded that it would assist in the prevention of terrorism or be justified in the context of immigration control.