Identity cards should be introduced to tackle benefit fraud, the Conservative Parliamentary spokesman for Watford said on Monday, July 14.

As the Government presses ahead with its plans for a national identity card scheme, Ali Miraj said he would support the cards being used to prevent fraud.

But he warned that the card would do little to stop street crime – unless people were actually forced to carry it and random police checks were carried out – something which he is against.

"If it's narrowly just focused on benefit fraud, fair enough, but I don't think it should be widened out to include street crime as it will then be a complete failure," he told BBC Breakfast.

"The Conservatives will look at the proposals and address them on their merits. We're not going to be dogmatic about this issue."

The card is expected to carry name, date of birth, address, employment status, sex, photo, national insurance, passport and driving licence numbers, and a password or PIN to authorise transactions.

MPs are expected to debate it from the autumn, and the cards would be introduced after the next election.