§ Mr. Nicholas Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional staff have been recruited to the Passport Office since November, 1970; and whether there has been any reduction in the time taken to handle passports, reply to letters and answer telephone inquiries.
§ Mr. SharplesAs regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the member for Bradford, West (Mr. Wilkinson) on 13th January.
As regards the second part of the Question, the arrears of work have been substantially reduced and the telephone inquiry service has improved. But the effects of the postal strike, by limiting the number of incoming letters and by holding up the despatch of replies, make it difficult to assess the prospects. My right hon. Friend will keep the situation under close review.—[Vol. 809, c. 74–75.]