HL Deb 11 November 1996 vol 575 c84WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What security controls they intend to incorporate into the new United Kingdom identity cards to prevent their misuse.

Baroness Blatch

United Kingdom identity cards will be subject to checks on issue at least as secure as those which apply to British passports. In order to prevent forgery, the cards themselves will contain a photograph and the signature of the holder together with several levels of security features, ranging from those which are visible to the naked eye and easily recognisable to those which may require specialist examination.