PRESS RELEASES

Friday, 14th October 2005

The Cost of Cut-Price ID Cards Still Too High

A stand-alone national ID card costing £30 is to be introduced, the home secretary, Charles Clarke, has announced. The card will be two-thirds cheaper than the £93 previously quoted for a combined passport/ID card. Ministers hope that the cheaper card, aimed at helping the low paid and pensioners, will help counter the growing unpopularity of the scheme.
More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1591984,00.html 

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting, Stephanie Dearden said:-

The compulsory £30 cost will prove too much for many. The elderly and poorest in society who may be barred from essential services such as healthcare, if they can't afford the fee. Only about 20% of the population will want to apply for a stand alone ID card, leaving the rest of the population to still pay over £90 for a combined ID card and passport. In addition we will all be paying through our taxes for the cost of implementing this scheme. The Government have yet to make a compelling argument for why we need ID cards, and why the public should believe that the cost of the scheme won't spiral out of control.

ENDS

  Stephanie Dearden

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting

Notes to editors

1. More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1591984,00.html 
2. If you would like to arrange an interview with Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting Stephanie Dearden then please call 020-7771-2551 or 07985-649807 or 07754 583090
3. Official photographs here http://www.stephaniedearden.org/smd_mugs/index.htm