Originally Posted by Cornwall County Council

Cornwall County Council Opposes Introduction Of National Identity Card Scheme

Cornwall County Council is to write to the Government opposing the introduction of its proposed identity card scheme.

Members at this week's meeting of the full County Council supported a Motion proposed by County Councillors Sally Bain and Alec Robertson opposing the national identity card scheme.

Proposing the Motion to write to the Government outlining the Council's opposition, Sally Bain said she had serious concerns both over the costs of the scheme and the security of any information held by the Government. "The Government does not have a good record on protecting the security of personal information" she said.

Her concerns were shared by Alec Robertson who said while he did not object to the idea of identity cards in principle, he felt that implementing the Government's proposal would be both hugely expensive and highly complex .

"As a former member of the Armed Forces , I am not opposed to identify cards, but I cannot support this scheme" he said.

County Councillor Cait Hutchings ( Lib Dem) asked that the Council made it clear that it would also be opposed to taking part in any pilot schemes or feasibility studies prior to the national scheme being introduced.