UK PASSPORTS - CHEAPER from SEPTEMBER

smudge56

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

Why are they making it cheaper? Why not just use the money for something else that needs it, like the NHS for example.

They are making it cheaper because they are not allowed to make a profit, they have to break even. Over the past couple of years they have made savings through closing interview offices and postal production offices as well as making savings with suppliers and contractors. Most of the staff reductions were made through natural wastage - not replacing staff who left/retired -and voluntary redundancies

zagfles

Gloomendoom wrote: »

For me, knowing that my £5 saving (50p a year) is probably the result of someone losing their job rather takes the shine off it though.

That's an odd way of looking at it. Would you deliberately choose to shop in a supermarket which charged higher prices than a rival just because they employ more staff than the rival?

Anyway in 1996 they managed to renew a passport for £18, which is under £29 in today's money. The massive real term rise in the cost isn't just or even mainly down to staffing costs in the passport offices.

zagfles

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

Why are they making it cheaper? Why not just use the money for something else that needs it, like the NHS for example.

So you think we should tax travellers to pay for the NHS? You are Gordon Brown and ICM5P