Lord Campbell of Croyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have been able to reach agreements with other countries on the acceptance of expired United Kingdom passports, owing to the problems of renewal arising from the Civil Service unions' dispute, in the light of the replies on the 15th and 21st May (Official Report, cols. 686 and 1048).
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Lord Carrington)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 less than five years previously and have not been cancelled will be regarded as valid travel documents. This came into effect on 1st June, and will last until 31st 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.
House adjourned at one minute past eleven o'clock.