OUR wallets and purses are full of cards which identify us. Banks, council offices, government departments and even shops all have information which indicate our lifestyle and activities.

Increasingly cards are an integral part of our daily lives and the introduction a national identity card raises few concerns with the law-abiding majority.

However, while there is little opposition to the concept, there is little enthusiasm. Hence, much of the debate will focus on the cost of the scheme.

The challenge, therefore, is for the Home Secretary to persuade us why a national identity card is so vital to the security of the nation, and worth the price each of us will have to pay for it.

He talks of the threat from terrorism, but fails to elaborate on how an identity card will thwart determined and ruthless terrorists.

An identity card, no matter how sophisticated, is not an effective weapon in the fight against terrorism. Compulsory cards in Spain were no deterrent to the Madrid rail bombers.

Mr Blunkett must avoid the temptation to respond in haste with ill-judged measures to tackle particular issues of the moment.

The introduction of identity cards is not the magic solution to the Government's troubles over terrorism and illegal immigration.

There needs to be a thorough examination of the effectiveness of the cards before Mr Blunkett presses ahead with a scheme which will cost £3.1bn.

The Home Secretary needs to ask himself whether such a huge amount of money would not be put to better use by investing in the police and intelligence services who are in the frontline in the battle against terrorism.