ID card vote will allow Wales to say 'No'

2.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Jun 2005

Opposition to compulsory ID cards in Wales is set to put the government on the back foot this week, thanks to a Welsh Liberal Democrat debate in the National Assembly.

The debate would mean Wales following in the footsteps of Scotland, and ensuring that no-one would need an ID card in Wales to access services under the control of the Assembly.

Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "Welsh Liberal Democrats have been very clear about our opposition to ID cards, and this is the strongest measure we can take - within the powers of the Assembly - to oppose their use in Wales.

"Scotland has taken a lead on this by ensuring that a card will not be required to access public services north of the border. Our debate gives Wales a chance to put down a marker and say we don't need this expensive scheme here either.

"The cost of the government's ID card scheme is already spiralling out of control, with the latest estimated cost of a card drifting up towards £100 per person. The total cost of introducing the system will run to billions of pounds - money which could be put in to front line services instead. And despite all these costs, there is still no clear evidence that it would be effective.

"ID cards could not stop the terrorist atrocities in New York or Madrid, and while the government now talks about tackling benefit fraud, the vast majority of such fraud is due to claimants mis-stating what they do, not who they are.

"We believe in a health service - and other services - where people are treated according to their needs, not because they carry a piece of plastic. I hope all the other parties will join us in making sure that continues to be the case in Wales."

Notes:

During the General Election campaign Liberal Democrats argued that the money the government intends to spend on ID cards would be better spent on 10,000 extra police across the UK.

First Minister Rhodri Morgan has refused to give a lead on this issue, despite being challenged by Mike German in First Minister's Questions. On 12 December 2004, when challenged to pledge they would not be required to access services in Wales, Rhodri Morgan said ID cards would not be an issue in Wales until 2007 - the earliest date they could be introduced.