ID Cards on Trial: Bill not vague enough, says Minister

The ID cards bill has entered its Parliamentary committee stage this week with the government arguing that the bill is already too "prescriptive".

The standing committee will debate some 188 proposed amendments to the current ID cards bill that have been tabled by MPs before it is returned to the House of Commons for its third reading and another vote by MPs. If MPs vote in favour of ID cards at that stage the bill will then pass over to the House of Lords.

During the opening session of the committee on Tuesday Home Office minister Tony McNulty fended off criticism of the vagueness of parts of the bill saying that there is already too much detail and that it is already "overly prescriptive".

Controversy continues to dog the progress of the ID cards bill with the government now accused of stacking the standing committee that will consider the proposed amendments with pro-ID card MPs.