ID cards on the way for healthcare entitlement

So far, the government has pulled back from a compulsory scheme saying that this would require a full debate in both houses of  Parliament.

On the issue of access to the NHS in an emergency, the plan emphasises: "Use of the card for access to free public services would not prevent people without cards from accessing emergency services, and those on low incomes and other vulnerable groups would not be disadvantaged."

Justifying the need for the scheme, the plan says: "It will help people prove their identity to access services such as free health treatment and benefits and give everyone confidence that legal migration will not result in increased fraudulent use of hard-pressed public services."

It says that by giving a clear indication that a person is not entitled to free non-emergency treatment, the card will help to combat so-called health tourism " the practice of entering the UK with the specific aim of using the NHS without proper entitlement. Such abuse is reported to be putting pressure on a range of services from kidney dialysis to maternity care in some areas.

Announcing the plan, home secretary, David Blunkett, said: "We know that the absence of an ID card in the UK – unlike most other countries in Europe – is a pull factor for those seeking to abuse our immigration system.  However, an ID card would ensure that legitimate foreign residents are properly identified, so they can be welcomed and integrated into our society.

"An ID card scheme will clamp down on health tourism…Public services have been exploited too long by people who are not entitled to them."

The plan is said to be opposed by some members of the cabinet and was met by a hostile response from human rights campaigners too. Campaign director of Liberty, Mark Littlewood welcomed the decision to postpone making ID cards compulsory, but took issue with the general thrust of the plan.

"All the evidence from other European countries suggests that ID cards are expensive, ineffective and damage community relations. In Britain, opinion polls show that several million adults would refuse point blank to carry one," said Littlewood.

"The government should think very carefully before spending billions of pounds on a scheme that could ignite such public outrage. Tackling fraud, combatting terrorism and reducing crime require detailed and intricate policy solutions. ID cards are no answer at all. They represent a real threat to our civil liberties and our personal privacy. There is no obvious upside."