To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues on issuing identity cards with text in both the Welsh and English languages; and what consideration she has given to the proposal. (246603)

Ministers are involved in discussions from time to time on many different aspects of the National Identity Scheme, including the format of the identity card. The initial cards issued to British citizens, starting in the second half of 2009 to airside workers at a small number of airports, including Manchester and London City airports, will have headings in English and French. This is in line with travel document standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The issue of Welsh language ID cards has been raised with Ministers by a number of Welsh MPs and at an ID card event in Cardiff in 2008. As a result, officials are in discussions with the Wales Office to see how Welsh language could be included on cards issued to Welsh residents.