The Queen's Speech.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22437884

/// If passed, the bill would ensure illegal immigrants cannot get driving licences, and change the rules so private landlords have to check their tenants' immigration status. ///

/// Businesses caught employing illegal foreign labour would face bigger
fines. ///

/// Migrants' access to the NHS would be restricted and temporary visitors would have to "make a contribution" to the cost of their care, either with their own money or through their government. ///

/// Asked on BBC Radio 4's The World at One whether this would mean GPs having to check patients' passports before agreeing to treat them, Business Secretary Vince Cable said "checks of various kinds" were one option being considered but the details had yet to be finalised. ///

With all these checks now necessary by Private Landlords, Employers, and GPs isn't the time now long overdue for the introduction of National I.D Cards?

[FredPuli43]

And would you make it the law that the card be carried ,outside the home, at all times, aog?

[ichkeria]

...or some form of foreign travel document such as a passport.

Oh, hang on ...

[bazwillrun]

Far too little far too late

the damage to this country has already been done

[andy-hughes]

We have a government department who is supposed to oversee checks like this - it's called The Border Agency - why are they allowed to pass their responsibilities on?

Doctors are doctors, landlords are landlords, the BA does checks and nothing else - how is this supposed to work?

[ludwig]

I don't think it's too unreasonable for a GP to check whether a prospective patient is entitled to free NHS treatment before they provide it andy. That's why they have the admin staff for that sort of thing.

[jim360]

Oh well baz, in that case why not just stop moaning about it. Guess there's no point in even trying any more...

[andy-hughes]

ludwig - a fair point, but what happens of the patient is not entitled - what price the Hyocratic oath then?

[bazwillrun]

@jim360
I stated facts, and even if it was moaning you know what to do if you dont like it, dont you

[ludwig]

// ludwig - a fair point, but what happens of the patient is not entitled - what price the Hyocratic oath then? //

They tell them they can't take them on as a patient. Everyone's still entitled to emergency treatment.

[ludwig]

That's what we're talking about - people trying to sign on to a surgery's books - not people in need of emergency treatment turning up at A&E.

[Gromit]

- The Borders Agency is being scrapped.

- These measures are doomed to fail. There is no authority to them such as a government agency or police to make sure illegals are caught. Instead, it relies on ordinary citizens to police. Landlords, doctors, employers are not really interested in doing that. They will not do it, and plead ignorance if caught.

- I was unaware that illegal immigrants could get a driving licence. How is that possible? Certainly agree it they should not be able to.

- Can't imagine doctors and hospitals turning away very sick people just because they do not have enough cash on them. Unworkable.

- Identity cards would not make any difference and is a complete red herring to the measures in the Queen's speech.

[jim360]

"the damage has already been done, it's too late" is an opinion not a fact.

[jno]

all part of the big society, isn't it - scrap the Border Agency and make all citizens into unofficial (and of course unpaid) spies.

[Khandro]

'There are stories of heavily pregnant women arriving in the UK because childbirth qualifies for emergency care and the child would be British, thereby providing the mother with residency rights. There are tales of families relocating because a child has severe congenital or acquired illness and of large numbers of patients with HIV coming to the UK because that is their only hope of getting effective treatment. There are even stories of patients landing at Heathrow in kidney failure and being blue-lighted to hospital for dialysis.'
Read this in full at;
http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/8847831/the-next-nhs-scandal/

[anotheoldgit]

jim360

/// "the damage has already been done, it's too late" is an opinion not a fact. ///

Ah, if it is not a fact, are you actually saying that it is not too late to repair the damage done, then please tell me how this situation can be reversed?

[jim360]

No, because equally it's an opinion for me that it's not too late :).

Besides which there are times when you can know that something doesn't work without necessarily knowing what will.

[FredPuli43]

Khandro, being born in Britain does not make anyone British, so a Nigerian or American mother who gives birth here does not then create a British citizen. (A Nigerian or British woman who did so in the US would, however, create an American citizen; a curious local rule which apparently applies even though the mother is an 'illegal')

[anotheoldgit]

Why do some if not most oppose I.D.cards?

Most these days have to carry workplace IDs, in fact they revel in it seeing the number of out of office hour workers still shopping in the supermarkets with this 'costume jewellery' hanging round their necks, most carry their Driving Licence, and possess a Pass-Port.

And what of those others who have none of these, are they not asked from time to time to provide proof of their identity by showing two recent utility bills etc?

A modern ID card could include a person's DNA, finger prints, photograph etc, who could possibly argue with that? I know that I wouldn't and at least we would know who has a legal right to be in this country.

[Sharingan]

So what they are actually trying to do is not stop illegal immigration just create lots of homeless, sick people with no driving licences and thus no car insurance then AOG? That sounds intelligent. Could no-one perhaps anticipate a massive increase in crime because of this?

[Sharingan]

We have ID cards in Germany and I don't actually see them as a big deal, but lots of UK people do so I'm happy to go with the concensus.