When the Allies rebuilt Germnay after WWII a clause was put in the constitution that specifically forbade the creation of a database of the kind that is currently proposed. Why do think that was?
John Eckersley Kettering (grew up in Derby)

The fear of ID cards dates back from the the time that the Nazis introduced them. Nowadays we need an ID card purely to inform the policy and in case of an emergency. This ID card should also be used to replace the current way of identity proof so the identity fraud will disapear. An ID with picture and address is succesfully used in Belgium and has alot more use and is not treaded as fearfull. Must say that the ID card is alot cheaper for the carrier.
Kurt - Derby

While I admire the fact that Bill has made his case on video I have to say I disagree with him. The 60 or so pieces of ID he refers to appear to be mainly store loyalty cards, which will not be replaced with the ID card system, and are in any case entirely optional. There is also little similarity with the war time card and that currently proposed. He also makes no mention of the database underpinning the scheme, which is the really objectionable part of the scheme. The collation of such large amounts of personal and sensitive data is wide open to abuse by the current government and any future governments, and the security of this data is by now means guaranteed in the current bill. In short Mr Watkins appears to be arguing in favour of a completely different scheme from that which is actually being put forward and I would encourage him to examine the proposals as they stand before he lends his support to them.
Rob, Bristol

"One of the fundamental contrasts between free democratic societies and totalitarian systems is that the totalitarian government relies on secrecy for the regime but high surveillence and disclosure for all other groups, whereas in the civic culture of liberal democracy, the position is approximately the reverse." - Professor Geoffrey de Q Walker (Dean of Law at Queensland University)
David england

Whilst one can appreciate Bill's perspective. I.D. Cards will nto infringe civil liberties BUT will do nothing else besides...they don't prevent terror ttrocities, they only better facilitate us in tracking down the perpretators which is useless, since the latest craze is suicide bombing. We don't want reactionary measures, we want preventative ones, which this £8 billion scheme won't provide!
Adam

Bill Watkins seems to have missed the National Identity Register database which underpins the system currently being proposed. This database is unlikely to be secure and will be open to abbuse by the powers that be. Okay so this Goverment is okay but what about the one ten years down the line. The other point Mr Watkins seems to have missed is that the proposed ID Card will replace none of the other forms of ID curently in use nor will it alow you to do anything you can't already do. Please Mr Watkins look at the ID Cards you will find that it is over intrusive and nothing at all like the old wartime ID Card, which by comparison was little more than a bus pass. The other point is that my identity is mine now it is not something I need to get from the Government. Colin Simpson
Colin Simpson, Cumbria

While Bill was living at home (medically unfit) there were young men dying to preserve the values that we treasure. Remember that the holocaust was made practical because the Nazi government had access to a database which allowed them to identify who was Jewish, who was half Jewish, etc. That is why there are now strict laws in Germany prevening the creation of a centralised database. Now the British government intends to betray the heros who fought for liberty by introducing a national identity register that the East German Stasi would have been proud of.
G, Scotland