HC Deb 31 January 1994 vol 236 c571W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for the future of the Passport Agency.

Mr. Charles Wardle

The performance and options for the future of the United Kingdom Passport Agency are currently being reviewed in accordance with the normal procedure for triennial reviews of executive agencies. A decision on the future of the Passport Agency will be made in the light of these reviews. An announcement will then be made.

Dr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost of issuing a passport by(a) the passport Agency and (b) equivalent agencies in each of the other European Union countries

Mr. Charles Wardle

The cost of 10-year standard British passport is £18. I am advised that the cost of the passports of each of the European Union countries is as shown in the table:

£
Belgium1 36ߝ48
Denmark 40
France1 40
Germany 11.50
Greece1 19
Ireland 43
Italy1 39
Luxembourg1 4
Netherlands1 32
Portugal 13
Spain1 6
1 Passports valid for five years.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the financial results for the past two years of the Passport Agency and the expected results for the next two years.

Mr. Charles

The Passport Agency's financial performance is measured by efficiency reductions in the unit cost of passport services. Over the period 1991–92 and 1992–93 the agency has made significant reductions in unit costs amounting to 4.2 per cent. compared with an aggregate target of 3.9 per cent. in this period. In the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95 the agency expects to achieve further efficiency savings of around 3 per cent. in each year.