HC Deb 25 January 1989 vol 145 cc582-8W
Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for(a) new passports and (b) amendments to passports were made at each office in each year since 1979; and if he will indicate the number of applications received in each month in 1987 and 1988.

Mr. Renton

The information, which relates to passports issued rather than to applications, is shown in the tables.

London Liverpool Peterborough Newport Glasgow Belfast Total
Total 1987 355,475 554,993 480,422 439,302 159,723 51,305 2,041,220
Total 1988 414,569 665,277 565,096 547,685 165,633 60,248 2,418,508

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the average time taken to process applications for new passports at each office from time of receipt to date of issue as at the first day of each month in 1988;

(2) what was the average time taken to process applications for (a) renewal and (b) amendment to passports at each office from time of receipt to date of issue on the first day of each month in 1988.

London Liverpool Peterborough Newport Glasgow Belfast
January 45 5 19 7 6 2
February 32 10 12 12 14 3
March 43 14 20.5 15 24 3
April 39 11 25.5 18 28 3
May 47 13 30 18 33 4
June 56 11 34 21 35 4
July 52 14 34 22 38 3
August 12 11 16 12 2 2
September 8 10 7 5 7 2
October 8 7 6 6 13 2
November 16 6 7 11 11 2
December 11 2 7 6 13 2

Note: Figures are those at the first weekend of each month in 1988.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of staff(a) in past and (b) actually on duty in each passport office on the first day of each month in 1988.

London Liverpool Peterborough Newport Glasgow Belfast
January
(a) 250.5 200 177.5 177 83 14.5
(b) 215.5 165.5 153 160 65 11.5
February
(a) 271.5 209 191 185.5 91 16
(b) 244.5 178.5 158 155 76 16
March
(a) 272.5 231 208 221.5 92.5 16.5
(b) 243.5 187.5 185 190 78 12
April
(a) 278.5 248 217.5 221.5 103.5 18
(b) 255.5 175.5 167.5 146 81 13
May
(a) 304.5 248.5 226.5 223.5 123.5 20
(b) 280.5 206.5 194.5 187 107 17
June
(a) 302 259.5 223 220.5 121.5 21
(b) 281 205.5 168.5 147 104 21
July
(a) 301 256.5 217 213.5 126.5 21
(b) 272 187.5 153.5 171 107.5 14
August
(a) 304 249.5 221 207.5 122.5 23
(b) 284 185.5 177 156 103.5 17
September
(a) 266.5 210 179.5 189.5 114.5 15
(b) 240.5 154 152 160 91.5 10.5
October
(a) 266.5 195.5 169 168.5 104.5 13
(b) 241.5 148.5 143 137 77.5 10
November
(a) 251.5 190.5 169 166.5 120 12
(b) 235.5 160 148.5 141 107 7
December
(a) 245 198.5 176 162.5 129 12
(b) 221 154.5 158.5 128 101 7.5

Mr. Renton

I regret that the information is not available in precisely the form requested. The processing times in working days for straightforward, non-urgent applications of all types are shown in the table, and relate to applications completed on the dates shown.

Mr. Renton

The table shows the number of staff in post and on duty at each regional passport office on the first working day of each month in 1988.

Column (a) Number of staff in post.

(b) Number of staff on duty (London figures do not reflect absences on annual/flexible working hours leave).

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed on a casual basis, namely, not on the permanent staff, at each passport office in each month of 1987 and 1988; and what was the cost of such staff.

London Liverpool Peterborough Newport Glasgow Belfast
January 1987 20 5 19 16 5 —
January 1988 20 11 25 20 8 —
February 1987 22 27 26 21 7 1
February 1988 27 32 43 53 10 2
March 1987 25 34 37 33 9 1
March 1988 37 51 51 52.5 21 4
April 1987 40 33 39 33 9 2
April 1988 62.5 50 62 53.5 40 5
May 1987 27 45 42 39 15 3
May 1988 54 62 60 51.5 38 5
June 1987 50 49 43 51 26 5
June 1988 56.5 58 54 48.5 39 6
July 1987 47 46 37 50 24 5
July 1988 57.5 53 58 41.5 35 8
August 1987 34 12 24 41 18 4
August 1988 26 25 31 35.5 29 —
September 1987 12 — 9 11 8 —
September 1988 19 21 8 5 18 —
October 1987 10 — 2 — 7 —
October 1988 12 17 9 4 7 —
November 1987 6 — 2 — 6 —
November 1988 10 17 16 4 7 —
December 1987 3 1 — 6 — —
December 1988 7 12 4 — 7 —

Salary cost of casual staff: 1987–£567,002.1988–£864,030

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visitors' passports were issued in each year from 1979; and how many extensions to passports were issued in 1986 to date.

Mr. Renton

The information is shown in the tables.

I. Annual issues of British Visitors Passports (1979–1987)
Numbers
1979 1,087,485
1980 1,178,885
1981 1,739,194
1982 1,399,575
1983 1,436,639
1984 1,501,579
1985 1,419,225
1986 1,806,168
1987 2,161,489

The figure for 1988 is not yet available.

II. Annual total of free short-term extensions to expired passports granted to personal callers at the London Passport Office
Number
1986 Nil
1987 13,532
1988 18,511

Precise figures are not available from the other regional passport offices, but the numbers issued were very low.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated time expected to be taken between receipt by application and issue of(a) new passports, (b) renewals and (c) amendment to passports at each office in 1989.

Mr. Renton

The table below shows the number of casual staff in post at each regional passport office on the last day of each month in 1987 and 1988, and the annual cost of such staff.

Mr. Renton

Subject to continuing satisfactory progress with the computerisation programme and no unforeseen changes occurring in the volume and pattern of demand for passport services, the passport department will be aiming in 1989 to process all straightforward, non-urgent passport applications within a month.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the target time for answering telephone inquiries at each passport office as at(a) 1 July 1988 and (b) the latest available date; what was the estimated average time to answer such calls; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton

There were no specific target times for answering telephone inquiries during 1988, and no information is available as to the average time taken to answer such calls. The passport department has undertaken a complete review of its telephone systems with a view to improving the service provided to the public, and various enhancements are being made. The aim in 1989 will be to provide a personal response to 90 per cent. of calls within two minutes of connection, but the achievement of this will depend on a number of factors, including the successful implementation of the remainder of the computerisation programme.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate the date of receipt of applications for new passports being dealt with on(a) 1 July 1988 and (b) 1 August 1988 at each passport office.

Mr. Renton

The table shows the date of receipt of applications for new passports being dealt with by each regional passport office at the first weekend in July and August 1988.

Week ending 3 July 1988 Week ending 7 August 1988
London 19 April 25 July
Liverpool 17 June 22 July
Peterborough 19 May 18 July
Newport 6 June 20 July
Glasgow 19 May 5 August
Belfast 1 July 5 August

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff not employed as permanent members of staff have worked for a continuous period of(a) three months and (b) six months or more in 1988, showing the information for each passport office.

Mr. Renton

The table shows the number of casual staff employed continuously at each regional passport office during 1988 for(a) three months or more and (b) six months or more.

(a) (b)
London 70 25
Liverpool 29 29
Peterborough 63 34
Newport 52 30
Glasgow 39 29
Belfast 3 2

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider a public campaign to encourage people to apply for new passports in the months from January to June and November and December.

Mr. Renton

The passport department already publicises on its application forms and in other ways, the need to apply for passports in good time and to avoid the peak summer periods when delays tend to be greatest. They are examining ways of reinforcing this message in 1989.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total budget for salaries and overtime in passport offices in 1988–89; what is the estimated expenditure; and if he will provide the same information for 1989–90.

Mr. Renton

The salaries and overtime element of the passport department's budget for running costs in 1988–89 amounted to £9.9 million. This is likely to be exceeded due

London Liverpool Peterborough Newport Glasgow Belfast
January
(a) 2,088 1,263 2,269 2,391 325 0
(b) 22,181 10,180 18,288 19,271 2,620 0
February
(a) 5,029 6,467 3,634 4,810 1,520 0
(b) 53,424 52,124 29,290 38,769 12,251 0
March
(a) 4,667 11,017 3,190 4,994 2,636 0
(b) 49,578 88,797 25,711 40,252 21,246 0
April
(a) 7,373 16,276 5,138 7,455 3,865 0
(b) 78,325 131,185 41,412 60,087 31,152 0
May
(a) 6,432 11,119 3,792 4,059 3,648 0
(b) 68,328 89,619 30,564 32,716 29,403 0
June
(a) 4,351 4,625 4,065 3,271 2,809 248
(b) 46,221 37,278 32,764 26,364 22,641 1,999
July
(a) 5,654 4,301 2,928 3,388 2,790 614

to the heavy demand for passport services during the year, but it is not yet possible to say precisely what the outturn expenditure will be. Budget estimates for 1989–90 have yet to be finally determined.

Mr. Darling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many telephone lines are available for calls from the public at each passport office in 1989; how many were available in 1988; how many staff are currently allowed to answer such calls; how many were available to do so during June to October 1988; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Renton

The table shows the number of telephone lines available for incoming calls from the public at each passport office in(a) January 1988 and (b) January 1989.

(a) (b)
London 28 28
Liverpool 24 24
Peterborough 12 24
Newport 17 40
Glasgow 6 12
Belfast 3 3

The switchboards at London, Peterborough and Newport connect callers initially to recorded message systems, giving general information for passport applicants. This service is to be extended to the other offices. Staff are allocated to telephone inquiry duties according to the overall operational needs of the office, taking into account other demands, in particular that of passport-issuing. No precise information is available as to the number of staff available to answer incoming calls during a particular period.