WORCESTERSHIRE Conservatives will refuse to support controversial plans for identity cards - unless Ministers address worries about the cost.

The Government is preparing for a crunch vote on the ID Cards Bill tonight when the details of the legislation will be debated in the Commons.

Tories including Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff and Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride supported the Bill when it was last before the Commons in December - but warned the plans needed improving.

But now the Tories are threatening to completely withhold their support tonight because the Government has made no attempt to address their concerns.

"We hoped that the Government would deal with the cost and complexity of the issue, and they haven't addressed those matters," Mr Luff said.

"It's almost inevitable that we will abstain, unless something extraordinary happens.

"We're not in principle opposed to some kind of ID card system, and a vote against would enable Tony Blair to say that we are not tough on crime."

The Prime Minister yesterday stressed that ID cards would provide the "best possible protection against crime and terrorism".

He was responding to criticism at Prime Minister's Questions from Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, whose party has opposed the Bill.

Mr Kennedy said: "Given that ID cards did not prevent the Madrid bombings, the 9/11 bombers travelled under their own identities, it is not going to be compulsory for 10 years and visitors to this country won't require them - how, then, is it going to make such a difference to the fight against terrorism?"

Concerns were also raised about cost by a Labour backbencher, Ross Cranston, who said that 80 per cent of people in his Dudley constituency supported the idea, but were worried about the cost.

Mr Blair said the ID card would cost about £15, on top of the £70 price of a new biometric passport, which will be introduced alongside.

The last time the Bill was considered by the Commons, Wyre Forest's independent MP Richard Taylor voted against the Bill, along with Hereford MP Paul Keetch.

West Worcestershire's Sir Michael Spicer and Leominster MP Bill Wiggin were among a group of Tories who did not turn up for the vote, despite a two-line whip from the party leadership in support.