POLITICAL

‘MPs urge Home Office to mandate PASS cards’

MPs from across the political spectrum joined forces to urge the Home Office to mandate PASS cards as valid ID to counter the problems experienced by hundreds of cardholders whose cards are being rejected.

CitizenCard’s meetings at this year’s political party conferences discussed the growing problem of cards being refused by doorstaff and barstaff in several parts of the UK.  Conference delegates and industry representatives discussed what more could be done to prevent underage access to alcohol, tobacco and gambling.  Speakers included Paul Hegarty of Drinkaware, Richard Hickson from Camelot and Paul Baxter from NFRN.

The MPs present all promised to take action.  At the Liberal Democrat Conference in Birmingham on 20^th September 2011, MP John Thurso pledged to persuade the Home Office to act by mandating licensees to recognise the cards as valid ID, something that the Scottish Government already does north of the border.  In Liverpool on 26^th September 2011, Labour MPs Pat Glass and Angela Smith said that the problem had to be solved because young people needed access to affordable, reliable ID. 

A week later in Manchester delegates heard that 40% of companies employing doorstaff would only recognise PASS cards if the Government “forced them to do so”.  Conservative MP Karen Lumley said she would speak directly with the Home Secretary to discuss making recognition of PASS cards, such as CitizenCard, mandatory.  In November 2011 CitizenCard Chairman Baroness Golding tabled a Question in the House of Lords asking Home Office Minister Lord Henley what steps the Government is taking to solve the problem. 

CitizenCard is a non-profit company. Instead of shareholders and profits, we exist solely to promote the benefits of using valid ID and proof of age. We do this by operating the CitizenCard scheme, the 100% Proof licensee awareness campaign and the No ID, No Sale! awareness campaign.

We seek to bring these initiatives to the attention of policymakers national and local. We have an active programme of meetings with Members of Parliament in their constituencies, usually at a newsagent or convenience store so the MP can hear first hand about the problems faced by retail staff on the front line of preventing underage sales of alcohol, tobacco, lottery and other age-restricted products.

Meetings have been held with more than 50 MPs in the Coalition Parliament, including the Coalition’s Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman and Labour MP George Howarth who as Home Office Minister launched CitizenCard back in February 1999.

To see if your MP is supporting CitizenCard and the No ID, No Sale! message click here.

If you are a local councillor, MP or MEP who would like to obtain more information about how CitizenCard can be promoted amongst schools, charities and retailers in your area please contact lmcclelland@citizencard.com

MEDIA

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For a media enquiry re CitizenCard, 100% Proof or No ID, No Sale! please contact Laura McClelland.