If, as we are told, Tesco now has on its computer "the details of every consumer in the UK", including socio-economic and lifestyle characteristics, we can be sure the others are feverishly trying to catch up.

One is left wondering why we should be concerned if the Government introduces identity cards in order to prevent illegal immigration and benefit fraud.

Perhaps if everybody demanded to know, under the Data Protection Act, what information they had about us, it might bring a halt to the practice.

-Reg Jenkins, Hove