§ 36. Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution the introduction of the common format computerised passport is making to the Passport Office's ability to deliver an improved service to its customers; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. RentonAs my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler) on 27 October, at columns324–25, all six United Kingdom passport offices, including the recently computerised Glasgow office, are processing straightforward non-urgent applications well within the minimum period of notice specified on passport application forms. The aim of computerisation is to provide a more efficient and improved service. When fully operational the computerised system should avoid the lengthy delays passport applicants have suffered recently with the outmoded manual issuing process.