Numbers are falling of new British passports

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It seems that Britons are becoming more like their American neighbours when the issue of travel abroad comes up. Research company ICM has revealed that a staggering 2.5 million UK residents said that when their passports come up for renewal they will not bother to act. It is widely known that only around 25-30 per cent of US born citizens own a passport, this maybe the way Brits are heading.

Pricing policies could well have something to do with the 2.5 million that said they will not renew. As of September this year another increase in the cost of passports will make them £77.50, which amounts to around an 85 per cent increase in just four years. Back in 2005 a passport would only cost £42, showing the gigantic leap.

The government has blamed this latest increase because of a shortfall in their predictions of new passport applications.

“Passport demand for the year ending 31 March 2009 was down by around 350,000 on our estimates, leaving us with a cost deficit of £32.4m,” said a spokesman for the Home Office.

ABTA were said to be displeased with the new increases. “I do think putting up prices again is unhelpful, and a knee-jerk reaction. There have been several prices rises in recent years to cover the cost of added security measures but it is extremely unfair for passport holders to bear the cost of inaccurate Home Office forecasts,” said Frances Tuke, spokesperson for Abta.

Thanks to www.guardian.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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