22-07-03

Barrett slams massive rise in passport costs

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today attacked the Government plans to increase the cost of a standard passport by 36%.

The Home Office has announced that from October, the cost of a standard adult passport will increase by £9 to £42 with a child's passport increasing from £19 to £25.  It follows earlier price increases which occurred in November of last year.

The UK Passport Service have said the money will pay for new security technology but is also needed to pay off the £26 million debt it built up during the passport crisis in 1999 which resulted in 500,000 people waiting for new passports.

John Barrett commented:

"The Government has clearly decided to charge its way out of the computer crisis which gripped the UK Passport Service four years ago and left the agency with massive debts. 

"However, this 36% hike in passport prices should be seen in the context of the other rises that the Labour Government has introduced since it came to power.  In 1997, a standard passport was just £18 but from October, once Labour's 5th increase kicks in, the cost will be £42, an increase of over 130%.

"These flat charges hit people on lower incomes hardest, especially families where several passports are now needed per household.

"However, it is the fact these charges are specifically being introduced to help clear the Passport Service's debt that will really anger people.  It is a disgrace that customers will be left to foot the bill for the costs of the Government's own incompetence."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. More information on the increases is available from the UK Passport Service at
http://www.ukpa.gov.uk/press.asp