Identity Cards Bill

I am happy to provide my hon. Friend with the answer. Although the figures are published by the Home Office, they are taken from APACS, CIFAS, banks and all the financial institutions that have provided estimates to the Home Office, and it has reprinted them. Hon. Members may cast doubt on those, but the figures have been arrived at by the people who will make use of the ID system. The combined effect of all the estimates, including those from Departments, is a benefit of up to £1.1 billion. I am sure that hon. Members can work out that the figure of £1.1 billion divided among about 38 million ID card holders is a benefit of £29 a person. So there is a cost of £3 and a benefit of £29. [Laughter.] Hon. Members may laugh because so many figures of billions of pounds have been poured over the House. The simple truth is, however, that the best estimates show that that is the value of the ID card. There are those whose main concern is civil liberties and the police, although they will have no additional powers.