HC Deb 27 July 1978 vol 954 c911W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give for the latest and most convenient stated date the number of persons with a British passport.

Mr. Luard

There is no way of determining the precise number of people holding valid United Kingdom passports at any particular time but standard passports have a total life of 10 years and in the 10 years ending on 31st December 1977 over 13¾ million were issued. In addition, about 900,000 British visitors passports which are valid for a year are issued annually.