I read with interest your Tuesday, July 2 article entitled 'MPs have little to say on identity card debate'. I am very much in sympathy with Julia Drown MP's reported confession of having no strong opinion on the matter either way.
As a child born in February 1940, I was issued at birth with a National Registration Identity Card which I used until at least 1949.
During this wartime period my family regularly moved between several evacuation addresses in the West Country and other family addresses in the Home Counties, and the identity card was invaluable to my parents for obtaining speedy and guaranteed access to the range of government services.
Neither was there any problem in having to show the card to "persons who are authorised by law to ask you to produce it", even during wartime, when my mother was a naturalised citizen of German origin.
I really feel that Home Secretary Mr Blunkett's enthusiasm for a voluntary citizenship entitlement card, which would guarantee access to public services, will be no big deal for any of us!
EG Thomas
Sandringham Road
Swindon
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