LONDON, April 21 (UPI) -- Britons overwhelmingly support the introduction of identification cards and would be happy to carry one, according to a survey.
A draft bill paving the way for a national ID card scheme is expected to be published next week, the BBC reported.
In the MORI telephone poll of 1,000 people, almost half said they would not want to pay anything for the cards. The draft bill proposes a fee of about $52 (35 pounds).
The survey showed 80 percent of those questioned backed a national ID card scheme.
Almost the same number said they would be happy to carry a card with them at all times, although the government does not intend to make it compulsory, the BBC said.
The principal reason people gave for backing the adoption of ID cards is to prevent illegal immigration. But the government wants ID cards to help fight terrorism.
