MPs committee attacks Newport passport office closure

A committee of MPs has criticised the UK government over its plans to close Newport passport office, warning of a "significant" economic impact.

The Welsh Affairs Committee urged the government to re-examine the criteria on which the decision was based.

The MPs were not convinced savings to the taxpayer would be achieved.

Home Office minister Damian Green said savings needed to be made while still providing a "highly secure and excellent" service.

Ministers are consulting over whether to close the office, which employs about 300.

The committee said the passport office was the second largest employer in Newport.

The chairman, David Davies, Conservative MP for Monmouth, said they considered the decision to close the office was "questionable".

"On the evidence we have seen, the committee has concerns about the rigour of the appraisal and consultation process which led to the decision to close the passport application processing centre at Newport," he said.

"We therefore consider the rationale for the decision to be questionable.

"The piecemeal nature of the announcements made by the government in October and the subsequent extension of the consultation period suggests the lack of a co-ordinated strategy regarding the future of the Identity and Passport Service [IPS] in Wales.

"The closure of the passport application centre at Newport would have a significant economic impact on the city.

'Public scrutiny'

"We find it extraordinary that no economic impact assessment has to date been published for public scrutiny.

"We strongly recommend that the government publish the economic impact assessment before a final decision is made and that its findings are fully considered.

"The government should use the extended consultation period to question again the rationale behind the decision, taking full account of an economic impact assessment.

"The whole process needs to be presented in the context of a properly thought-through strategy for the IPS in Wales."

Mr Green said: "I thank the Welsh Affairs Committee for their report into the future of the Newport passport office and assure them it will be considered along with all other evidence before a final decision is taken.

"The Identity and Passport Service is currently undergoing a rigorous consultation process on proposals to restructure the application processing centre in Newport. IPS needs to make savings while ensuring it still provides a highly secure passport and an excellent service to customers.

"IPS will continue to provide a passport service in Wales and I have already agreed with the secretary of state for Wales that we will retain a customer service centre at Newport."

The IPS has previously said its analysis had found that closing Newport would result in "the greatest reduction of spare capacity at the lowest cost to the taxpayer".

Unions criticised the proposed closure saying it would devastate the local economy and lead to hardship for workers who would lose their jobs.