Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements have been put in place to ensure those required to attend passport interview offices are able to afford to do so since the number of offices was reduced in 2017.

The need to interview passport applicants is limited to an adult applying for their first UK passport (unless identity is in doubt) and as such is a once in a lifetime requirement. Her Majesty’s Passport Office has reduced the number of applicants that have to attend this Interview through the use of outcomes of checks already completed by other Government Departments.

When evaluating the number of Interview Passport Offices, Her Majesty’s Passport Office reviewed the home postcodes of applicants and which Interview Passport Office they attended, ensuring that the any proposed alternative journey was reasonable in both time and distance.