国产热热热精品,亚洲视频久久】日韩,三级婷婷在线久久,99人妻精品视频,精品九热人人肉肉在线,AV东京热一区二区,91po在线视频观看,久久激情宗合,青青草黄色手机视频

Four in five Britons should have some kind of identity card by 2013, Britain's Home Secretary (Interior Minister) David Blunkett told the country's parliament, announcing a measure resisted by some fellow ministers.

Britain's Home Secretary David Blunkett  [AFP/File]

The introduction of a compulsory ID card would make it easier to combat terrorism, illegal immigration and welfare fraud, he said, adding that parliament would vote on the plan but not for some years.

Initially the government will set up a database where basic information about each citizen will be stored.

"It will not have details of religion, political beliefs, marital status or your health records," Blunkett said.

From 2007/8 onwards a new type of passport will record this kind of information, using biometric data such as fingerprints and eye-scanning. The scheme could be extended to driving licenses and Britons who held neither a passport nor a driving licence would be offered the option of an ID card.

"The Government expects that 80 per cent of the adult population would have an ID card by 2013," Blunkett said.

"I know some people believe there is a sinister motive behind the cards; that they will be part of a Big Brother state.

"This is wrong -- only basic information will be held on the ID card database -- such as your name, address, birthday and sex."

Blunkett said surveys showed 80 per cent of Britons backed the introduction of the card which he described as "not a luxury or a whim ... a necessity."

But at least two senior government ministers are reported to have misgivings about the card and human rights and civil liberties organisations have attacked the scheme as both costly and a threat to personal freedom.

Close

Today's Top News		Top International News
+Deflation, not inflation, in the wind ( 2003-11-12) +China plans shake-up for state enterprises ( 2003-11-12) +US opposes 27.5% tariff on China-made goods ( 2003-11-11) +Nuke talks possible before year's end ( 2003-11-12) +Women graduates face hurdles in tight job market ( 2003-11-12)		+Four in five Britons to have ID cards in a decade, minister says ( 2003-11-12) +Six die in Dominican protests of slumping economy ( 2003-11-12) +'Honeymooners' actor Art Carney dies ( 2003-11-12) +US Senate clears bill to sanction Syria ( 2003-11-12) +UN: Israeli barrier cuts into W. Bank ( 2003-11-12)