§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) permanent, (b) temporary and (c) part-time staff have been employed in the Belfast passport office; how many applications for passports have been handled by that office in each of the last five years; and what proposals he has to increase permanent staffing levels at the Belfast passport office.
§ Mr. RentonThe information requested in respect of the Belfast passport office is as follows:
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Year Number of passports issued Permanent staff1 Casual satff2 1984 33,707 15 6 1985 34,655 15 6 1986 45,472 16 6 1987 51,305 18 5 1988 60,248 18 8 1 The figures for permanent staff include two part-time staff in 1986 and six part-time staff in 1987 and 1988. 2 The figures for casual staff are the maximum for the year. Staffing levels at all the United Kingdom passport offices are closely monitored. There are no current plans to increase the permanent staff complement at Belfast.