§ Mr. RobathanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) when it was decided to change the date of the recent increase of passport charges; [136744]
(2) how many people have complained about the earlier than advertised rise in passport charges; [136745]
(3) Department how much he estimates will have been generated in extra revenue from the rise in passport charges on 2 October rather than 1 November. [136747]
(4) how many people he estimates have been affected by the earlier than advertised rise in passport charges. [136748]
§ Beverley HughesThe new fees that became effective on 2 October 2003 were set by the Consular Fees Order 2003, a statutory instrument which was approved by the Privy Council on 17 July and approved by Parliament on 18 July 2003.
Since the announcement was made, 774 complaints have been received at United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) Headquarters and the seven Regional Offices via telephone, fax, letter, e-mail and complaint forms submitted at our counters.
The effect of implementing the rise in passport fees on 2 October as opposed to 1 November is estimated to be £2.6 million additional revenues.
Unfortunately we have no data which enables us to determine how many people have been affected by the earlier than advertised rise in passport charges;
Between 2 October 2003 and 2 November 2003, UKPS has issued 407,800 passports. The number of complaints received therefore represent approximately 0.189 per cent. of the total of all passports issued since the fee increase.