Identity Documents Bill

Lord Morris of Aberavon Excerpts

Wednesday 17th November 2010 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Neville-Jones]

As I have just said, we do not believe that we are expropriating anybody of their rights. If this is challenged in the courts we will obviously defend that position.

[Lord Morris of Aberavon]

May I follow that point? The Minister has made the proposition that there is no right in contract by the cardholders and no expropriation. On the assumption that no advice has been obtained from the law officers on these matters, would it be prudent before the next stage of the Bill to obtain such advice?

[Baroness Neville-Jones]

My Lords, I will confirm the advice that I have received.

[Lord Morris of Aberavon]

Is the advice from the law officers?

[Baroness Neville-Jones]

I am not sure that I can confirm that. I will seek to do so before Third Reading.

We should not exaggerate the significance of all this. Much has been made of the elderly and the very young. We have no reliable demographic information at all on who the purchasers were. We know that 3,000 of the 15,000 were given free to airside workers for a particular purpose.