§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What charge is made for the replacement of a lost or stolen United Kingdom passport; and whether such charge covers the total cost of replacing the passport there is any element of penalty included in the charge. [HL2426]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThere is no charge levied by the UK Passport Service on people who report their passports lost or stolen other than the fee required to replace the passport. There is no element of penalty in the fee charged for the replacement passport. The Passport Service operates on a net running costs regime and all its costs are recovered through passport fees. Following the introduction, from 8 December 2003, of improved arrangements for reporting lost, stolen and recovered passport arrangements, the Passport Service has conducted an extensive publicity campaign, one of the key themes of which has been to highlight passport holders' responsibilities for the safekeeping of this important document. Also, as part of its annual fee review the Passport Service will be examining whether a differential and higher fee can be charged for replacing a lost and/or stolen document.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is desirable that the Registrar of Births and Deaths should inform the Passport Office of deaths in order that any valid passport held by a deceased person can be cancelled; if so, whether legislation is needed to facilitate this; and, if so, whether they expect to introduce such legislation. [HL2427]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe UK Passport Service has been seeking to establish arrangements to receive routine notification of deaths from the Registar General in England and Wales to enable it to cancel any passport held by a deceased person.
Legislation is required to facilitate access to the death records for this purpose. In January 2002, the Government published the White Paper, Civil 110WA Registration: Vital Change, which set out plans for greater sharing of registration information across government. The order-making powers of the Regulatory Reform Act 2001 will be used to make changes to the legislation covering access to death registration records. It is expected that the draft order will be presented to Parliament for scrutiny before the Summer Recess.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements are in place for the cancellation of the validity of a passport held by a deceased person; how many passports of deceased persons have been returned to the authorities for cancellation in the past 12 months; and how many passports have been cancelled as a consequence of the deceased holders. [HL2428]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalEvery passport contains a reminder that it should be returned for cancellation on the death of the holder. On receipt these passports are cancelled. The United Kingdom Passport Service is in discussion with the Office for National Statistics on arrangements to facilitate via local registrars of births, marriages and deaths the return of deceased persons' passports on notification of death.
The figures for passports of deceased persons cancelled in the last 12 months are not immediately available. The Passport Service is currently collating this information and I have asked the Director of Operations to write to the noble Lord with the information as soon as it is available.
§ Lord Inglewoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans there are for passports issued by member states of the European Union to include biometric detail. [HL2431]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalA draft regulation presented by the European Commission Document 2004/0039 on 18 February (Council Document 6406/04) will require passports issued by European Union member states to include at least one biometric identifier.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether naturalisation information and application papers are available at all times in the Belfast Passport Office. [HL2485]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalUK Passport Service staff do not detail the requirements or hold the application papers for naturalisation or registration as a British citizen. All inquiries and requests are referred to the Home Office Nationality Group in Liverpool.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why, in terms of passports, there are differences between British citizens and British subjects; what the differences are; and whether any changes are envisaged. [HL2486]
111WA
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalCitizenship is a matter of law, which is determined by the facts of a person's date and place of birth, those of their parents and the application of the provisions of the relevant legislation.
The British Nationality Status of Aliens Act 1914 determined in law that all persons born in the United Kingdom and Crown's dominions would hold the status of British subject.
The British Nationality Act 1948 introduced the concept of citizenship and determined which British subjects would become a British subject, citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies (BSUKC). The Act came into force on 1 January 1949, and provided for all persons born in the United Kingdom and Colonies to become BSUKC by birth. Those born in a foreign or Commonwealth country who had a father born in the United Kingdom or existing colony would become BSUKC by descent. Other British subjects with a close connection with an independent Commonwealth country became British subjects, citizens of … (the Commonwealth country).
The status of British subject was retained by a small number of British subjects. In particular Irish citizens born before 1 January 1949 could elect to remain British subjects. British subjects born in British India before 1 January 1949 who did not become citizens of India also remained British subjects on 1 January 1949.
The British Nationality Act 1981 provided for BSUKCs who had the right of abode in the United Kingdom to become British citizens on 1 January 1983. It also retained the status of British subject for those who remained British subjects on 1 January 1949.
British subject status only applies to those born before 1 January 1949 and cannot be passed to further generations by descent, as is the case with British citizenship. The status will fail to exist when the last British subject is deceased.
All British passports are issued in the same format and are only distinguishable by the status shown on the personal details page, or in some cases where the passport holder is not a European national for passport purposes by the absence of "European Union" on the front cover.
The major difference between the status British citizen and British subject is that British citizens are able to travel freely within the European Union whereas British subjects who are not European nationals for passport purposes, may need to obtain visas prior to travel. Individuals holding "British Subject" passports may be required by the immigration laws of the receiving country to obtain visas prior to travel. This is not a matter over which the British Government have any authority to intervene. The UK Passport Service therefore recommends that all travellers check with the travel agent or the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country they intend to visit if a visa is required.
There are no changes envisaged.