I’d like to put the following challenge to any Member of Parliament, of any party, who may be considering voting to overturn the amendment to the Identity Cards Bill passed in the House of Lords which makes registration on the National Identity Register on application for a passport or driving licence and receipt of an identity card entirely voluntary when the Bill returns to the Commons.

In no more than one side of A4, please explain in your own words how a system which requires anyone applying for a passport or driving licence to be automatically entered into the National Identity Register and issued with an identity card in any way ‘voluntary’.

To assist you with this, please refer to the following definition of the word ‘voluntary’:

Voluntary adj

1. Done or undertaken of one’s own free will: a voluntary decision to leave the job.
2. Acting or done willingly and without constraint or expectation of reward: a voluntary hostage; voluntary community work.
3. Normally controlled by or subject to individual volition: voluntary muscle contractions.
4. Capable of making choices; having the faculty of will.
5. Supported by contributions or charitable donations rather than by government appropriations: voluntary hospitals.
6. Law.
1. Without legal obligation or consideration: a voluntary conveyance of property.
2. Done deliberately; intentional: voluntary manslaughter.

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