Home Office publishes details of passport offices
The Home Office has today published its list of 69 interview centres that will handle first-time applications for passports, and ultimately all passport applications. There will also be 22 mobile units to handle remote communities.
I am, however, rather concerned about how realistic this number of office is. I live in the south of England, well within the London commuter belt, and approximately midway between two of the proposed offices. If I were to drive, I would allow 40 minutes or so to reach either of them (not in the rush hour, of course). If we allow 20 minutes to park and get to the office, and another 20 minutes contingency before a 20 minute interview, and 10 minutes to return to the vehicle.
Total time (with vehicle) 2.5 hours.
Approx. cost of journey: £15
If, on the other hand, I didn't have a car, then I'd need to allow 30 minutes to take one of the half-dozen buses each day into town; from there the quickest travel time is the 70 minutes to London, and let's allow 45 minutes travel/contingency, 20 minutes for the interview, 20 minutes back to the station.
Total time (public transport) 3.75 hours.
Approx. cost of journey: £20
The passport application process now guarantees me at least half a day out of my time. I'm not necessarily critical of the concept of an interview process, and with E-Borders coming it will become essential, but I would very much like to know:
- will these offices be open outside of office hours, or do I need to take time off work to attend?
- what measures will be taken to assist the disadvantaged in their applications? For example, passport officers to visit handicapped applicants?
- how efficiently will the centres run? Am I going to end up spending two hours waiting for a delayed interview?
Not earth-shattering stuff now, but this is likely to have serious PR implications for the government if it wishes to achieve and maintain public support for the E-Borders programme.
9:33:01 AM 
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