[IMAGE] UK News Electronic Telegraph Monday July 22 1996 [IMAGE] Issue 432 See text menu at bottom of page [IMAGE] Labour plans DNA tests for everyone from birth By Rachel Sylvester, Political Staff _________________________________________________________________ External Links [IMAGE] Identity cards - A solution looking for a problem [IMAGE] Conservative Way Forward - Danger of compulsory ID cards [IMAGE] Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility - response to Green Paper on ID cards _________________________________________________________________ RADICAL plans to take the genetic fingerprints of everyone in Britain and put them on a compulsory ID card are being considered by Labour. A database of DNA identities would be used to solve crimes and cut benefit fraud. Frank Field, tipped as a possible Social Security Secretary in a Labour government, has drafted proposals to produce a genetic database of the nation. Blood samples would taken from babies and from people applying to live in Britain. The samples would be used to extract DNA. Only identical twins have the same DNA, making it a more accurate fingerprint. Chris Smith, shadow social security secretary, confirmed that the party was examining the plans. "We are not ruling them out. We are determined to cleanse the national insurance system of fraud." John Wadham, director of the pressure group Liberty, said it was incredible that a senior Labour politician could suggest such a "draconian" measure which breaches European law. "There is no evidence that such a massive invasion of our privacy would do anything very much towards stopping crime." Mr Field, chairman of the Commons Social Security Select Committee, also advocates taking compulsory fingerprints from every citizen as a fall back to confirming a person's identity. The combination of genetic and physical fingerprints would be used to "rebuild the national insurance system", Mr Field said yesterday. Each person would be given a number at birth, combining national insurance and health numbers, which would tally with their genetic code. The information would go on a computerised identity card. It would also contain an individual's address, medical history or criminal record. It would be impossible to claim benefit without the card. Mr Field believes that Mr Blair is "sympathetic" to the proposals and that any opponents would be "Old Labour". Mr Blair will express his determination to reduce fraud in a speech tomorrow. Mr Field, MP for Birkenhead and described as one of Blair's "gurus", believes that the scheme would eradicate the use of multiple identities by benefit fraudsters and wipe off a large part of the annual £2.5 billion cost of social security fraud. There are millions of bogus national insurance numbers in circulation. It would also allow police to solve more crimes because traces of semen, hair or skin found at a burglary or rape would lead to the culprit. Ann Widdecombe, the Home Office Minister, said: "There are huge practical and resource implications. Think what it would cost to test every person in the country." Mr Wadham said there was no guarantee that the benefits would follow. "Not all fraud is to do with bogus national insurance numbers. I do not understand why, even if you have an identity card, you would need a genetic database." Mr Field advocates setting up a commission to regulate the use of the information. It is unlikely that any policy would be announced before the general election. Mr Blair, who is known to be looking for radical ideas on social security, has told shadow ministers to "think the unthinkable" and remind the public that "with rights come responsibilities".