Post by Taxigirl on Nov 6, 2003 10:05:48 GMT
Serious cabinet divisions are understood to exist over David Blunkett's plans to introduce ID cards into the UK, the BBC understands.
A sub-committee of the cabinet - chaired by John Prescott - met on Wednesday and concerns were aired about the proposals during a discussion that sources later described as "savage".
Chancellor Gordon Brown said on Thursday that there were "very strong views on all sides of the matter" in the general debate over ID cards.
But, speaking on the BBC's Breakfast programme, he said he would not comment on the plans ahead of full cabinet discussions on Thursday.
Opponents say ID cards would be prohibitively expensive to introduce and would have serious implications for civil liberties.
David Winnick - a member of the Home Affairs select committee - said he was "not at all surprised there was so much controversy" over the issue.
He played down suggestions that ID cards were a necessary tool in the fight against international terrorism and said their introduction would cost between £1.5bn and £3bn.
'Indispensable'
"At the end of the day we've managed without ID cards for 50 years," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
But ex-Home Office minister John Denham said he wanted a draft bill on ID cards brought forward because that would allow people to look at the detail of what Mr Blunkett was proposing.
Earlier Home Office minister Beverley Hughes said: "[ID cards] are an indispensable and vital contribution to making progress on some of the serious issues that face us".
The cards, backed by Mr Blunkett and supported "in principle" by Tony Blair, are said to face opposition from Mr Brown, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt.
Ms Hughes told a Parliamentary debate she recognised the body of opinion against the cards but added they would be an "extremely important weapon" in tackling "the fight against terrorism" and immigration.
Sources present at the domestic affairs committee meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, described proceedings as "savage" and "a bloodbath".
'Bloodbath'
It would take six to 10 years to introduce ID cards, Ms Hughes said on Wednesday.
"We need to think, not only whether we need an ID card now, but whether we need one in 10 years," she added.
The minister said time and money was being invested in developing biometrics to be used for a variety of documentation.
She added the money would be spent regardless of whether ID cards were introduced and Britain should take advantage of it.
The investment would bring development "almost to the point of an ID system" yet unless Britain took that further step it would not get any of the potential benefits, she said.