HC Deb 26 May 1966 vol 729 cc148-9W
Sir D. Kaberry

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will review the arrangements for the issue of passports in an emergency through a local Ministry office so as to ensure that insistence on two identical photographs of the applicant will not be a bar to the issue of a passport.

Mr. George Thomson

As a rule applicants for passports and British Visitor's Passports are required to submit two identical photographs. One is affixed to the passport, the other retained as an essential part of the records. In cases of emergency, however, the Passport Office use their discretion and accept photographs which are not identical, always provided that they are both clearly those of the applicant. The Local Offices of the Ministry of Labour, who act as agents for the Passport Office, do not at present have the same latitude, but I am now arranging for this to be extended to them. Meanwhile, if the hon. Member will send me particulars of the case he has in mind I will gladly look into it.

Sir D. Kaberry

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will review the procedure for applications for and issue of British passports with a view to the simplification or abolition of the passport in its present form.

Mr. George Thomson

The procedures for passport issue and applications are under constant review, and I am satisfied that we have gone as far as we can for the present towards the reduction of formalities for ordinary passports and the provision of simplified passports (British V,sitor's Passports) for tourist travel.

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