Lockhart meets Home Office Minister to urge passport action plan

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has met Minister of State at the Home Office, Kevin Foster MP, to urge the government to enact an action plan that will speed up the passport application process.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

“In recent months, my office has dealt with several hundred passport application issues,” the Upper Bann MP commented.

“The biggest complaint being the time between submitting an application, and holding your passport in your hand.”

While guidance from the Home Office has been changed from a six-week to 10-week expected turnaround, people are receiving their passport outside of this timeframe.

Carla Lockhart MP and Kevin Foster MP, Minister of State at the Home Office.Carla Lockhart MP and Kevin Foster MP, Minister of State at the Home Office.
Carla Lockhart MP and Kevin Foster MP, Minister of State at the Home Office.

“It is simply too long for this process to take,” Ms Lockhart stated.

“Whilst I have helped many people secure passports this year, I have a number of constituents who missed their holidays because of the delay in processing passport applications.

“Therefore, we need to see urgent steps put in place to clear the backlog, and restore a reasonable timeframe for applications.

“My message to the government was clear - enact a clear action plan now to bolster resources in the Passport Office network.

“Let us get back to the six-week timeframe as a first step, along with the fast track option being restored.

“Both these steps would transform the service and ensure no one misses their summer holidays this year because of a passport application backlog.”

The Upper Bann MP welcomed the minister’s actions so far but said “more must be done”.