Stone says passport delays for Caithness travellers and others are 'simply not good enough'
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PASSPORT delays being experienced by Caithness travellers and others are "simply not good enough," according to far north MP, Jamie Stone.
He spoke out following growing concerns about the difficulties at the Passport Office with some people having to wait over ten weeks to get their documents.
The Caithness, Sutherland and easter Ross MP urged people in the Highlands to ensure their passports are up to date before booking any international travel this summer.
People wishing to travel are recommended to:
*Check the entry requirements for where you are travelling – you might need three or six months left on your passport to be allowed in.
*Apply at least 10 weeks before you need your new passport.
*Check your application thoroughly to avoid further delay.
* Apply for a fast-track slot if your need is urgent, they although are often unavailable.
The Liberal Democrat MP, said: "People across the far north have been struggling for months to get passports in time for travel this summer. These delays are simply not good enough.
"The simplest message I can give is this – if you will need a renewed passport this summer, apply as soon as possible, and if in doubt use the fast-track service. If your passport is valid through the summer then you can help others by waiting until the autumn to apply, so that there is more capacity for the most urgent cases.
"If you already have an application in and have been waiting for more than ten weeks or have an emergency need to travel, please contact my office as soon as possible. We are receiving a lot of correspondence on this issue at present, but we will do what we can to speed up the process through direct intervention with the Passport Office."
The UK Government has stressed that the ten-week timeframe is not guaranteed, as a passport "will only be issued once all checks upon the application have been satisfactorily completed."
However, it adds that where a UK-based customer has waited more than ten weeks and can provide evidence that they are due to travel within the next fortnight, HM Passport Office will prioritise their case. In these circumstances contact the Passport Adviceline (0300 222 0000), it states.
