§ 34. Sir RICHARD COOPERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in the case of passports for which application is lodged by hand, the actual writing of the passport is undertaken only after the applicant has called at the time appointed; if he is aware of the irritation and waste of time on the part of the public consequent on this arrangement, amounting in the aggregate to many hundreds of pounds per day; and if he will direct the officers in his Department to take the convenience of the public into consideration in arranging their work?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)Applicants for passports are not required to call again unless an interview is necessary. In such cases it is not possible to make out the passport beforehand, since it may be decided not to grant it. Every effort is made to meet the convenience of the public. I should like to point out that, in the majority of cases, passports can be sent to the applicants by post, if the application is accompanied by the requisite fee and a request to that effect.
§ Sir R. COOPERDoes the hon. Gentleman know that when a passport has been approved of by the authorities the people are asked to call, and then the passport is made out? Will he take steps to stop that?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI can assure nay Friend that I am doing everything I can personally to deal with this matter.