In response to readers who questioned the introduction of and public support for ID cards (Letters, December 30), it is worth noting the polling organisation ICM surveyed more than a thousand people about the issue on December 1 and 2.

It found 80 per cent of the public thought ID cards a "good" or "very good" idea opposed to just 17 per cent who thought the idea a bad one, even taking into account the cost.

Sixty five per cent believed they would help combat benefit fraud and more than 70 per cent felt "law abiding people have nothing to fear" from ID cards.

More than sixty per cent of the public agreed ID cards would help reduce illegal immigration and felt the Government was "quite capable of running a national ID database properly".

More than half of those surveyed thought the scheme would be "a significant aid to fighting crime" and would also help combat terrorism.

It would seem on this law and order issue the Green Party are quite out of step with public opinion and it is the Labour Government which is once again listening to the people and delivering real measures to improve security and tackle crime.

-Councillor Warren Morgan, Labour, Brighton & Hove City Council