ID cards appeal

SOUTH Derbyshire MP Mark Todd has called on the Government to abandon its plans for ID cards.

Since November last year, ID cards have been compulsory for foreign nationals living in the UK and will become mandatory for workers at Manchester and London City airports in an 18-month pilot scheme later this year.

The cards, which will contain details of a person's fingerprints, name, date of birth and address, will then be offered to the rest of the population from 2011.

Mr Todd has not supported the Government's proposals and has monitored progress on the project, strengthening his opposition to the plans.

In an adjournment debate in Parliament yesterday, he called on the Government to halt the project, saying the plans would be costly, unnecessary and ineffective.

He said: "While there have been some sensible decisions made since the passage of the Bill, I doubt that it is realisable in its planned form."