§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will establish an inquiry into the implications for the administration of the Passport Office of statements by Mr. Steven Cockings, manager of Visa Shop Ltd., that can obtain a new passport in 12 days, compared with the normal time for processing applications made by post of up to 12 weeks; and what action he is taking to ensure that all members of the public receive equal service from the Passport Office.
§ Mr. RentonPriority is given to all passport applications requiring urgent attention, whether these are lodged personally by individual members of the public, or by one of the over 230 agencies accredited by the London passport office to lodge applications in bulk. The agency section benefits all members of the public who call at the busy London passport office by reducing the number of applications which have to be examined on the spot. This reduces the average time callers have to wait to lodge their applications.