§ Dr. HampsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider meeting the seasonal pressure of applications by the establishment of passport office facilities in Leeds for those seeking passports who live east of the Pennines; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonThere are at present six regional passport offices in the United Kingdom. Since the great majority of passport applications are usually dealt with by post, the location of the issuing office is not normally a significant factor in determining the speed of service. We shall, however, be reviewing the location and number of offices later this year. My right hon. Friend announced on 6 June in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Mr. Young) at columns47–8 a number of measures which are being taken to ease the present problem of delays at the passport offices.