Letter: Identity cards from birth to death

Sir: I am surprised none of your correspondents has mentioned a form of identity that every citizen in the United Kingdom has, by law, to be issued with in the first six weeks of life. A card is produced, with the person's name, date of birth and current address. This information is updated whenever the person changes address or surname.

What is this ID card? The National Health Service number, issued at the registration of birth and surrendered only on death. So the talk of spending millions of pounds to introduce a new form of identity is not needed. We all already have an ID card.

Yours faithfully, D. P. F. LAW Birmingham 17 October