§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will institute an investigation into the serious delays which are occurring at passport offices in the United Kingdom which result in delays of several months in the issuing of passports to applicants.
§ Mr. LuceNo. Non-urgent applications are being dealt with by the Glasgow and Peterborough offices within about six weeks of receipt. Delays at other offices are less. Delays at Glasgow result from an excessive demand, exacerbated by the effects of civil service industrial action which was particularly severe in Scotland. All efforts are geared to ensuring that passports are issued in good time for stated dates of travel.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Lord Privy Seal why it is impossible to get a reply from the telephone exchange at the Glasgow passport office; and what action 424W he proposes in the light of the fact that electors have spent up to five hours in one day endeavouring to make contact with the office without success.
§ Mr. LuceExcessive demand for passports has placed the Glasgow office under severe pressure and my right hon. Friend therefore regrets that it can be difficult to contact it by telephone. No immediate remedy is practical other than concentrating all efforts upon clearing the backlog of applications.