§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
How soon after the holder reports the loss or theft of a passport cancellation becomes effective. [HL2668]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe speed with which a passport is recorded as cancelled from when the UK Passport Service (UKPS) receives notification of a loss or theft can vary depending on the circumstances of the case and completeness of the report.
The UKPS will record a passport as cancelled only once it is satisfied that the correct passport record has been identified from the loss or theft reported and that the report is genuine. In some cases, such as those in which notification of the loss or theft is received automatically via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, cancellation will take place well within 24 hours. In other cases, particularly if further inquiries are necessary the process may take longer. Work is ongoing on a programme to reduce the time between lost/stolen passport reports lodged overseas and cancellation of the record on UKPS's computer system.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made an estimate of the administrative cost, including security checks, precautions and the issue of the new passport, caused by the loss or theft of a United Kingdom passport; and if so, how this compares with the cost of (a) issuing a first time applicant with a passport; and (b) renewing an expired passport. [HL2669]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThe UK Passport Service (UKPS) operates on a net running costs regime and all its costs are recovered through passport fees.
As the noble Lord is aware, UKPS introduced a comprehensive new system for reporting and processing lost and stolen passports in December 2003. It is too early accurately to assess what additional costs are incurred in processing transactions of this type.
The UKPS undertakes an annual fee review in conjunction with HM Treasury to ensure that fees are set fully to recover the cost of each service provided. The fee for the replacement of lost and stolen passports 22WA will be fully considered in the next review which is due to take place in spring 2005.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will introduce a £500 charge for replacing a lost or stolen passport; and if so, what this would accrue. [HL2670]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalThere are no plans to introduce a charge, over and above the passport fee, for issuing a replacement for a passport which has been reported lost or stolen. Such a punitive charge would be inequitable, particularly in a significant number of cases where it would penalise people who are already the victims of crime. However, passport fees are reviewed regularly to ensure they cover the cost of services provided and the next review in spring 2005 will assess whether a different fee should be levied to replace a lost or stolen passport.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any arrangements exist for the governments of European Union countries to exchange information on lost or stolen passports; and, if not, whether they will seek to initiate such arrangements. [HL2671]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalArrangements do exist for exchange of such information between European Union member states. As part of its counter fraud strategy and as part of achieving its strategic objectives, the United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) intends to share information relating to lost and stolen passports with law enforcement agencies at home and abroad. To this end, UKPS has been in discussion with the relevant authorities to provide data to Interpol and, within the European Union, the Schengen Information System.
These discussions are well advanced and UKPS is developing a technical solution to enable data to be sent to both systems on a routine basis.
§ Lord Hyltonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have proposals to make it an offence for an employer to withhold a passport from an employee; if so, what action they propose; and, in the interim, whether they will consult the nongovernmental organisation Kalayaan, with a view to issuing guidance on this matter to chief constables. [HL2695]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalWe have no proposals to create such an offence as everybody in the United Kingdom already has the full protection of the criminal law, whatever their nationality or condition of stay. Should an employer withhold the passport of an employee, they could be liable to prosecution for committing an offence of theft. Where this occurs the employee should report the matter to the police so they may consider the appropriate action.