ID cards win Blair's support

Tony Blair has given his cautious support to the introduction of identity cards.

Addressing journalists on Wednesday, the prime minister argued that there was "a case" for the introduction of a nationwide system of identity cards.

The comments came amid reports that Downing Street had shelved David Blunkett's proposals fearing they could prove both expensive and unpopular.

Blair said ID cards could be used to prevent abuses of the NHS by so-called health tourists.

But he also admitted that there were "huge logistical and cost issues" to be resolved.

"In principle, there is a case in my view for Britain moving towards a system of ID cards. I believe there is a case for that," he said.

"However, there are huge logistical and cost issues that need to be resolved.

"Now, it's worth looking, which is what we're doing, at how you can resolve them.

"But it's not a quick fix for the system because of the amount of time and the logistical process in introducing them."

His comments followed the publication of consultation by the Department of Health, offering guidance to NHS staff on how to identify patients who should be paying charges.

It comes after concerns have been raised that some visitors to the UK do so under the premise of a "business trip" to secure treatment that would otherwise cost them thousands of pounds.

"I happen to think that in the long term, that is the direction in which we need to move," added Blair.

"But every government that has looked at this, and I seem to remember that the last government looked at it over a period of years as well, has concluded the same thing.

"In principle, yes, but you've got to make sure that the system you've got in place has its logistics properly secured and worked out, and you've got to look at the issues to do with cost, so that is what we're looking at the present time."