§ Mr. Beithasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will take steps to ensure that recently expired passports and alternative forms of identification can be used by people, who would otherwise be prevented from travelling by the present dispute at the passport offices.
§ Mr. LuceI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield and Tamworth (Mr. Heddle) on 22 May. Since then, the Australian and New Zealand authorities have also agreed that, for the purpose of travel from the United Kingdom to their countries, and return to the United Kingdom, United Kingdom passports which expired fewer than five years previously, and have not been cancelled, will be regarded as valid travel documents. This will come into effect today, 1 June, and will last until 31 August on which date it will lapse unless further extended. We are urgently considering all possible ways to alleviate the effects of the industrial action at the passport offices.
§ Mrs. Knightasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make special arrangements to pay a refund to those persons who have paid for a full British passport which has not been issued as a result of the Civil Service strike and who are forced to acquire a British visitor's passport at additional expense.
§ Mr. LuceI am examining this matter and shall let my hon. Friend have a full answer as soon as possible.