DOCUMENTS released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal predictions by New Labour that around 15 million people will resist ID cards.

Included too are facts that contradict New Labour's premise that ID cards will reduce fraud.

They also lay bare the claim by New Labour that ID cards compulsion had yet to be discussed, as the documents state plans to make ID cards compulsory from 2014, even in the face of the expected revolt.

In turn, Blairite MPs and ministers have dodged and weaved when pressured over ID cards in Parliament by MPs and the Lords. Every excuse under the sun has been used to support their introduction, from terrorism to library access in schools.

The architect of the ID cards scheme, David Blunkett, is now employed by Entrust, a Texan company that wishes to operate ID card schemes.

Charles Clarke, when on the back foot against the chagrin of many MPs, emphasised the requirement for mutiple biometrics and the creation of a clean, single database called the NIR. However, several existing databases will be used and the number of biometrics for security will be just a few.

York MP Hugh Bayley has always backed ID cards and the National Identity Register. But he hasn't produced details of how he now stands on the compulsion element.

He prefers to have a wait-and-see policy, presumably as he realises the full extent of the hatred to New Labour's high-tech branding system.

Come on Mr Bayley, tell us your position on ID cards compulsion, before you and your devious government have us all lined up, counted and branded.

T Scaife, Manor Drive, York.