§ Baroness Macleod of Borveasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any plans to increase passport fees this financial year.
§ Lord GlenarthurWe have no plans to increase passport fees this financial year. These fees, which have been at their present levels since November 1983, are designed to cover the cost of providing passport facilities in the United Kingdom and at Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular posts overseas, and also the costs of those consular services for which fees are not charged. The latest projected costings indicate that full cost recovery will be achieved this financial year on the basis of current fee levels.