§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state for each year since 1992 the average period between the receipt of a passport application and the provision of a passport in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland. [22022]
558W
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienInformation is not available to answer the question by country. The list shows the average time it has taken the UK Passport Agency to process all straightforward, properly completed applications made in the United Kingdom in each year (commencing on 1 April) since 1992.
- 1992–93: nine working days;
- 1993–94: eight working days;
- 1994–95: seven working days;
- 1995–96: six working days;
- 1996–97: six working days.
The average so far for 1997–98 is nine working days due to an unexpectedly high demand.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each year since 1992 the number of(a) passports lost and (b) other official documents lost, in the passport offices of (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales and (iv) Northern Ireland. [22023]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienInformation on passports and other official documents lost in the UK Passport Agency's offices are not separately recorded, but the incidence of such loss is comparatively rare. Lost passports and documents submitted in support of passport applications are replaced free of charge to the applicant.