The Number10 ePetitions website was set up some time ago to allow the public to get together and demand a response from Government on an issue. This one caught my eye:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to hold a referendum on ID cards and the National Identity Register

 

In view of the government’s inability to protect our privacy, in particular by losing our personal details on a regular basis, we must hold a referendum on the introduction of Identity Cards and the National Identity Register.

The following response was published this week:

Thank you for your petition suggesting holding a referendum on the introduction of identity cards and the National Identity Register (NIR).

 

The Government does not believe that there is a need to hold a public referendum on the introduction of the NIR and associated ID cards, as the Government was elected in 2005 on a manifesto commitment to introduce ID cards, and has a clearly established policy to introduce a National Identity Scheme, based on legislation approved by Parliament.