The Cabinet will debate the introduction of identity cards later this morning.

Last night, a two-and-a-half hour session of the Cabinet's domestic affairs committee, chaired by John Prescott, was described by one participant as "bloody but inconclusive".

Gordon Brown, who is worried about the cost and feasibility of the scheme, is a principal opponent of the idea. Last month Tony Blair told MPs that he was in favour of the concept "in principle".