I’m going along to this on Wednesday afternoon – taking time off work to get there in fact.
The government has introduced draft legislation for a national identity card. The card system will cost at least �3 billion and is likely to become an essential part of life for everyone residing in the UK.
If the draft legislation is accepted by Parliament, everyone will be required to register for a card. Biometric scans of the face, fingers and eye will be taken. Personal details will be stored in a central database. A unique number will be issued that will become the basis for the matching of computer systems.
The proposed card may be required to access vital public services and to receive benefits. The government proposes to enforce the programme through numerous new criminal and civil offenses, including provision for unlimited financial penalty and up to ten years’ imprisonment.
The implications for everyone in the UK are far-reaching.
Join us at this important meeting to hear from key figures in the fields of law, politics, security, technology and human rights. Decide for yourself whether this is a plan that should be supported.
I shall report back, hopefully in some detail. This is too vital an issue to leave alone.