ID Card Centre Coming to Norwich

10.34.23am GMT Sat 25th Nov 2006

Norwich City Council has approved a planning application from the Home Office for an "interview and administration" centre on Duke Street, which will be used to place all passport applicants on the ID database once the scheme starts.

Commenting, Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, said:

"Identity cards will cost a fortune and won't stop terrorism or fraud. The money would be far better spent on recruiting more police to patrol our streets and make Norwich safer."

"The centre in Norwich will be used for purposes that will break Labour's manifesto commitment to make ID cards voluntary. Everyone who registers for a new passport at this centre will be added to the national identity register."

Note: Labour's election manifesto said: "We will introduce ID cards... rolling out initially on a voluntary basis as people renew their passports."