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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Cost of new passports to increase | Cost of new passports to increase |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The cost of getting a new passport is to rise by more than £5 - or 7% - with ministers blaming a drop in income following a fall in applications. | The cost of getting a new passport is to rise by more than £5 - or 7% - with ministers blaming a drop in income following a fall in applications. |
| From 3 September, the cost of an adult passport will rise from £72 to £77.50 while a child's will rise by £3 to £49. | From 3 September, the cost of an adult passport will rise from £72 to £77.50 while a child's will rise by £3 to £49. |
| The recession has reduced the number of passport applicants, hitting revenues at the Identity and Passport Service. | The recession has reduced the number of passport applicants, hitting revenues at the Identity and Passport Service. |
| Ministers said the hike, the first since 2007, would also help to pay for enhanced passport security measures. | Ministers said the hike, the first since 2007, would also help to pay for enhanced passport security measures. |
| More than eight million biometric passports - which have photographs and other personal details scanned onto them - have been issued since 2007. | More than eight million biometric passports - which have photographs and other personal details scanned onto them - have been issued since 2007. |
| The price increase is not related to the cost of setting up the national identity card scheme, because revenue for the passport service is ring-fenced. | The price increase is not related to the cost of setting up the national identity card scheme, because revenue for the passport service is ring-fenced. |
| Immigration minister Phil Woolas said the price increase would maintain "the high standards in customer service and document security British citizens have come to expect". | Immigration minister Phil Woolas said the price increase would maintain "the high standards in customer service and document security British citizens have come to expect". |
| Those over 80 will continue to receive passports free. |