The home secretary has defended plans to introduce high-tech identity cards in the UK.

In comments likely to spark outrage from civil rights campaigners, David Blunkett announced he favoured cards holding "the minimum" information for the identity of its holder to be established.

He used a speech on Wednesday to highlight the progress of a review into the feasibility of introducing entitlement cards for accessing benefits and health services.

"I'm in favour of a fairly simple smart card as opposed to a highly sophisticated card on which all sorts of information could be stored,'' he said.

"For what goes on the card, there should be two absolute precepts. One is the decision of the individual, if they want medical information to go on the card. Secondly, if the government wish to add to the information on the card, there should have to be further legislation.''

Blunkett played down civil liberty fears by talking up the benefits of easy access to public services, combating illegal immigration and tackling the rising costs of identity fraud.

He also insisted parliament could provide "safeguards" against any future administration's potential "abuse" of the system by framing it within strict legal limits.

Blunkett predicted any card scheme was not likely to be introduced in the next couple of years but the technology could be available in five years' time.

The home secretary talked down his plans saying it was simply recognising future possibilities.

"I don't want martyrs, I don't want a revolution over this, I just want a sensible debate about where we will be in five or 10 years' time," he said.

Ministers have also pledged that the new card will be "voluntary" to the extent that it can not demanded in ID street swoops.

The information commissioner Richard Thomas, along with campaigners, has highlighted the risk "function creep".

There are concerns that a central data register could be used by government agencies for "new and perhaps unacceptable or incompatible purposes".

But civil liberty campaigners have attacked the information commissioner for "censoring" debate at its conference.

Privacy International has been barred by the watchdog from "distributing relevant printed material" at the meeting.

"It is disgraceful that a civil liberties group should be censored in this way by the official responsible for freedom of information," said the group.

A Home Office "entitlement" card review including a public consultation has led to government claims that public support is growing for proposals, with a two-to-one split in favour of the plans.

But the figures are disputed by privacy campaigners.

A consultation drive by Privacy International has attracted 3000 responses since January 10.

The campaigners have set up a "phone to email" service.

Respondents can phone one or two local rate numbers to register their views on the proposed ID card: in favour on 0845 330 7245; against on 0845 330 7246.

Messages left on these lines are then converted to an audio file, and emailed to the Home Office.

Ministers have confirmed that the audio files counted among the official consultation responses.

Privacy campaigners claim that the government's figures showing public support for ID cards were based on the 1500 responses received by December 11.

But, they say, the boosted number of responses sees backing drop to 25 per cent.

"This is an unequivocal vote against the government," said Privacy International's director, Simon Davies.

"People are learning at the eleventh hour why this proposal is so dangerous. Public support for the ID card is dropping by more than one percent per hour."

"The government has failed to establish a convincing case for the card. The consultation has been a sham from the word go".

Civil rights campaigners argue, despite ministerial assurances, that the scheme will introduce compulsory ID cards by the back door.

"The proposed universal entitlement card is a compulsory identity card by any other name," say Liberty.

"Everyone will have to register and to produce the card to prove their entitlement to services and employment.

"If you need the card to get your pension, to see a doctor, or to be allowed to get a job, then it is a compulsory card.

"The reality is that this vastly-expensive scheme will tackle none of them, but will have a serious impact on every innocent hard-working individual in the country.

"The government wants us all on a database, which it can link to others, making all our information available to all departments - with huge dangers of misuse."