NAC votes against Identity Cards
Tony Gurney writes in the Arran Voice:
The government’s plans to introduce ID cards received a fresh blow today as North Ayrshire Council voted not to co-operate with any introduction of the controversial documents.
A motion introduced by Tony Gurney, SNP Councillor for Ardrossan and Arran, called on the council to write to the Home Office informing them that North Ayrshire Council will not take part in any voluntary pilot scheme or feasibility work related to the National Identity Scheme.
Speaking during the council meeting, Councillor Gurney pointed out that the cost of introducing ID cards is estimated to be £18bn. Terminals to use the cards, (paid for by council tax payers), will cost £4000 each; money that could be far better used for providing local services. He described the proposal for ID cards as ‘an attack on civil liberties’, involving huge expense as yet un-costed by the government, and added, ‘It is without a doubt a system the council should reject wholeheartedly.”
|