§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will widen the categories of persons eligible to sign passport application form "B" under section 7 so as to include non-professional classes.
§ Miss Joan LestorThe present arrangements are designed to permit easy checking of counter-signatories, the names of most of whom can be found in standard reference lists. It would be undesirable to amend the existing rules before the210W present review of procedures is completed and we have decided whether any practical steps can be taken to strengthen precautions against fraudulent passport applications. The Passport Office has discretion to accept the signature of a non-professional person in exceptional cases.