§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement on the Government's policy towards issuing national identity cards to(a) immigrants and (b) all citizens.
§ The Prime MinisterAs my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary informed the House on 10 February 1989, the Government are not persuaded that a compulsory national identity card scheme should be introduced.
In the Government's view the disadvantages of a policy of issuing national identity cards, notably the high financial cost, the risk of harming the relationship between police and public, and civil liberty objections, would outweigh its benefits.