§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much profit or loss has been made from passport fees during each of the last five years for which records are available.
§ Mr. WhitneyIt is Government policy that the costs of providing passport and consular services should be covered by revenue from fees. The following figures are the profit or loss made on the passport and consular services in the last five financial years:
Profit Loss £ £ 1978–79 3,874,145 — 1979–80 5,895,528 — 1980–81 6,825,746 — 1981–82 2,609,566 — 1982–83 — 2,822,002
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation he held before deciding upon the new passport fees.
§ Mr. WhitneyNone. The existing level of passport and consular fees were no longer sufficient for revenue to cover increased costs. The present increases are therefore necessary to meet the Government's policy of ensuring full recovery of costs.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what profit or loss he expects to make from passport fees from 14 November.
§ Mr. WhitneyAfter taking into account the fee increase on 14 November there is expected to be an overall loss on the passport and consular services in the financial year 1983–84 of approximately £4.9 million. On present estimates this will turn into a surplus of £3.9 million in 1984–85.