UK Passports – from £18 in 1997 to £77.50 under New Labour

The latest biometric passport being issued come with a slip warning that it must be treated as a electronic component and therefore must not be bent or subjected to strong magnetic fields etc. The integrated “chip” contains a copy of the original data in digital format for scanning purposes and is thus termed a biometric passport. To renew ones passport one is provided with a New Passport Number which then conflicts with all paperwork associated to the old passport. If Identity cards be adopted will they also carry their own unique numbers as to people heightening the need for cross-referencing and specialist ID projects to organise the chaos that may result between Gov Departments?.

 

Given technological advances will Passport holders also become holders of Identity Cards thus caring for and funding two forms of identification both needing renewals at cost to them?. Indeed could ID Cards not initially be issued for travel purposes where any visas necessary be laminated and accompany it. The latter could be specially stamped at the destination as to stay period for expiry while the ID chip be updated with the same information – and information held centrally to the benefit of UK ID holders abroad whom could be specifically advised as to any developing adverse situations which may arise affecting their protection.

 

Advice: A <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />UK biometric passport abroad costs £124