HC Deb 17 April 1967 vol 745 c81
25. Mr. Tinn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he will open a passport office on Tees-side.

Mr. William Rodgers

New passport offices will be opened in Peterborough and Newport (Monmouthshire) at the end of this year. Should the demand for passports continue to increase, it may later be desirable to open additional offices, and, in that event, the claim of Tees-side will certainly be considered.

Mr. Tinn

In considering Tees-side's claim in that event, will my hon. Friend net forget—I am sure that he will be the last to do so—that the new county borough of Tees-side will be second only to Birmingham in size and, therefore, should rank high in the queue for Government offices?

Mr. Rodgers

I agree that Tees-side is an excellent location for new offices, offering admirable facilities and a great deal of local good will.