Bill passed amid concerns over way personal information will be used
The Government's controversial identity cards bill is on its way to the Lords following a final reading in the House of Commons last night.
The bill was passed by 309 votes to 284 after 25 Labour backbenchers joined forces with the Tories and Liberal Democrats to vote against the bill.
An amendment allowing people to apply for a passport without having to submit personal details to the national identity database was defeated by 32 votes. A second amendment, making the scheme free of charge, was defeated by 33 votes.
Liberal Democrat MP David Heath said the bill raised a number of concerns. He pointed to the Cabinet Office's draft information technology strategy which notes that "identity management is a subject whose time has now arrived" and says the Government will use identity cards as part of a "suite of identity management solutions" with data sharing to increase in order to enable public and private sectors to provide cost-effective electronic services.
"Those are legitimate matters of concern for many hon. Members, so we want to find out what the Cabinet Office proposes and whether the Home Office agrees," Heath said.
He also added that results of tests showed a number of flaws in the system.
But Home secretary, Charles Clarke, said the personal details contained on the card will not go beyond those currently held on passports.
The bill says that name, date and place of birth, gender, address, nationality and immigration status can be recorded on the ID database.
Clarke said that new legislation will have to be brought in if extra personal details, such as criminal records, were to be added.
