Oral Answers to Questions — Passport Offices

– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 July 1967.

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Mr. Alan Lee Williams:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is satisfied that there are a sufficient number of passport offices to enable the issue of passports to the public without undue delay; and if he will make a statement.

Photo of Mr William Rodgers Mr William Rodgers , Stockton-on-Tees

Passports can now generally be issued within 10 days of the receipt of a correctly completed application form, as against about 16 days last year. New passport offices are being opened in the autumn at Newport, Monmouthshire and Peterborough to enable an efficient service to be maintained in the face of an increasing demand.

Mr. Alan Lee Williams:

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Would he agree that for people living in the area which serves my constituency it is very unsatisfactory that arrangements should be centred on London in terms of passport offices? Would he agree to open an additional office to serve south-east Essex?

Photo of Mr William Rodgers Mr William Rodgers , Stockton-on-Tees

Perhaps I may remind my hon. Friend that passport applications can be lodged at any one of over 1,000 offices of the Ministry of Labour, but certainly I will keep a close watch on the matter and if it seems desirable to meet the convenience of customers and the speedy issue of passports I will consider whether new offices should be established in his constituency and elsewhere.

Photo of Mr Terence Boston Mr Terence Boston , Faversham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent temporary staff are recruited in the summer months to deal with the peak demands for passports for holiday purposes.

Photo of Mr William Rodgers Mr William Rodgers , Stockton-on-Tees

The demand for passports increases from 7,000 a week in winter to about 36,000 during the summer months. The Passport Office, therefore, have to use a considerable number of temporary staff for routine clerical duties. The three passport offices had 283 such staff on 30th June.

Photo of Mr Terence Boston Mr Terence Boston , Faversham

Would my hon. Friend accept that this use of temporary staff is most welcome, and will he bear in mind the advantages of using more if necessary, if this will further reduce the time taken to issue passports?

Photo of Mr Robert Sheldon Mr Robert Sheldon , Ashton-under-Lyne

Is my hon. Friend aware that passport offices were set up at a time when the only means of travel overseas was by sea, and now that air transport is so very much used for overseas travel would he consider having passport offices in such places as Manchester, which has the largest provincial airport in the country?

Photo of Mr William Rodgers Mr William Rodgers , Stockton-on-Tees

That is an interesting suggestion, and one we will certainly take account of in considering where new offices might be located.