My mother runs HR for a non-profit with about 50 employees. There is a lawyer in the area that runs a business being the "lawyer on retainer" for local businesses, for both profit and non-profit seeking enterprises.

For an organization her size she pays $600 per year. She can call any time and ask an HR question. The lawyer in charge also puts out a monthly newsletter with information and law changes to help HR people. I think a small organization of around 10 people pays about $300 and that is the floor on prices.

This rate is in the metro-Boston area.

You are right that a National ID card in the UK was not considered. However, what was considered was an Irish ID Card. It was desired that all Irish in the UK had to show ID and sign a photo every time they wanted to rent an apartment, buy a house, or get a hotel room.

The seller/owner would have been required to keep this information in case the Irish person bombed some place and they could begin to track them.

Of course the politician that proposed this instantly rose to the top of the IRA assassination list. I can't remember if it was PM Edward Heath or not. Edward Heath did introduce internment in Northern Ireland where Catholics could be detained and sentenced without a trial. That did lead to a failed assassination attempt by the Balcombe Street Gang.