Controversial plans to introduce a government identity card will be debated
by leading figures at a public meeting in Cambridge next week. The debate
will cover the costs of the card scheme, the loss of privacy and whether
the scheme could ever achieve the stated aims.
by leading figures at a public meeting in Cambridge next week. The debate
will cover the costs of the card scheme, the loss of privacy and whether
the scheme could ever achieve the stated aims.
The speakers are:
* Peter Lilley MP, cabinet minister in the last Tory government
* Professor Ross Anderson, world-leading expert on computer security
* Tauhid Pasha, of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
* David Howarth, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Cambridge
Government figures put the cost of the scheme at over £200 for every
taxpayer. The government wants to make everyone in Britain get an identity
card when they renew their passport -- more than doubling the cost to £85
-- and everyone would have to travel in person to the Passport Office to be
fingerprinted.
"Identity cards will cause a lot of annoyance to the Queen's subjects,
without really managing to cause much inconvenience to Her enemies", says
Professor Anderson.
Peter Lilley said "Whenever the proposal for compulsory ID cards was
considered by the last Conservative government I described it as 'a
solution looking for a problem'. On examination ID cards were of little use
in tackling most of the problems proposed."
David Howarth said "ID cards and the massive database that lies behind them
will be an expensive and dangerous fiasco. Like every centralisation of
power, they will increase the risk of error and the risk of the abuse of
power."
According to Andrew Watson, NO2ID Cambridge coordinator, "ID cards haven't
prevented terrorism in Spain or Turkey, and gangmasters aren't going to
demand ID cards from illegal immigrants before they send them
cockle-picking. Meanwhile, the public would have to pay for an ID card to
use free public services like the NHS."
The meeting will be in Fisher Hall, Guildhall Place, Cambridge CB2 3NH at
7:30 pm on Tuesday 25th January. All members of the public and press are
invited to attend. Cambridge MP Anne Campbell has turned down her
invitation.
NO2ID (www.no2id.net) is a national organisation campaigning against
the introduction of identity cards in the UK.
The Government wants to bring in ID card legislation by May 2005.
The total cost of the programme is estimated at £6 billion, or more than
£200 for each taxpayer.
Under the Government's proposals, people who don't tell the authorities
that their cards have been lost, damaged or stolen would face a £5000 fine
or 51 weeks in jail.
* Peter Lilley MP, cabinet minister in the last Tory government
* Professor Ross Anderson, world-leading expert on computer security
* Tauhid Pasha, of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants
* David Howarth, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Cambridge
Government figures put the cost of the scheme at over £200 for every
taxpayer. The government wants to make everyone in Britain get an identity
card when they renew their passport -- more than doubling the cost to £85
-- and everyone would have to travel in person to the Passport Office to be
fingerprinted.
"Identity cards will cause a lot of annoyance to the Queen's subjects,
without really managing to cause much inconvenience to Her enemies", says
Professor Anderson.
Peter Lilley said "Whenever the proposal for compulsory ID cards was
considered by the last Conservative government I described it as 'a
solution looking for a problem'. On examination ID cards were of little use
in tackling most of the problems proposed."
David Howarth said "ID cards and the massive database that lies behind them
will be an expensive and dangerous fiasco. Like every centralisation of
power, they will increase the risk of error and the risk of the abuse of
power."
According to Andrew Watson, NO2ID Cambridge coordinator, "ID cards haven't
prevented terrorism in Spain or Turkey, and gangmasters aren't going to
demand ID cards from illegal immigrants before they send them
cockle-picking. Meanwhile, the public would have to pay for an ID card to
use free public services like the NHS."
The meeting will be in Fisher Hall, Guildhall Place, Cambridge CB2 3NH at
7:30 pm on Tuesday 25th January. All members of the public and press are
invited to attend. Cambridge MP Anne Campbell has turned down her
invitation.
NO2ID (www.no2id.net) is a national organisation campaigning against
the introduction of identity cards in the UK.
The Government wants to bring in ID card legislation by May 2005.
The total cost of the programme is estimated at £6 billion, or more than
£200 for each taxpayer.
Under the Government's proposals, people who don't tell the authorities
that their cards have been lost, damaged or stolen would face a £5000 fine
or 51 weeks in jail.
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