On Fri, 8 Jul 2005 17:10:56 +0100, "Gay Merrington"
wrote:

With the chat about these cards coming out with what happened over the past
36 hours,it drove home to my why these ID cards might be a good idea after
all.Aside from the security angle,which has been discussed to death,

And this incident just goes to prove that there would be no worthwhile
security benefits.

In light of what happened,think of how much easier it would have been for
Emergency services to identify the dead and/or prevent/or treat the injured
if we all had one of these cards which would include such biometric
information such as drug allergies,medical conditions and the like just in
case of such emergency.This could be life saving information.This could also
help relieve the grief of families of the missing when the speed of
identifying the dead is helpful.

Please explain why a £15 billion scheme is necessary for this, when
you could achieve the same aim by e.g. writing the information on a
piece of plain card and putting it in your pocket.

Granted,we should not be using these cards without proper checks and
balances,but for those who are not breaking the law,and are asked for a
lawful reason to produce it,

There can be no lawful reason to be asked to produce it. No law exists
allowing the police to demand an identity card.

[...]
Only criminals will have something to hide.

Nonsense. My private life and personal details are private, and I
would wish them to be kept where practical from people like you,
government officials, and sundry private corporations. And I am not a
criminal (at least until a law is passed making such a desire
illegal).