Those affected by ID card abolition get chance to speak out

Some firms may seek compensation for having ID card contracts terminated

The Commons committee charged with examining the bill abolishing ID cards has issued a call for evidence on the effect of the legislation and any of its provisions.

The committee, which will go through the measure clause by clause, is due to sit for the first time on Tuesday 29 June and has to complete its work by Thursday 8 July.

The government is rushing the abolition bill through the Commons and then the Lords to get it on the statute book before the summer holidays to minimise the cost of having to maintain the current system.

The public appeal for evidence gives those affected by the scrapping of ID cards – including existing cardholders who are being refused compensation and firms that might claim contracts setting up the system should be complied with or compensation paid – a chance to make their views known to MPs in a position to do something about it.

They will not go into individual cases.