Passport Applications Debate

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Department: Home Office

Passport Applications

Hywel Williams Excerpts
Wednesday 18th June 2014

(10 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Yvette Cooper Portrait Yvette Cooper
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The Conservatives have been in government for four years. They cannot simply blame history to explain why things have gone wrong this time.

Hywel Williams Portrait Hywel Williams (Arfon) (PC)
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The right hon. Lady will be pleased to know that there is a Welsh language helpline. However, Sian Burton, my constituent, applying for a passport for her son, called the Welsh language helpline repeatedly over several days and never managed to get through to an adviser. She was eventually put through to an English-speaking adviser. She speaks English and so eventually collected the passport from Liverpool. She told me that staff in the Liverpool office were friendly and helpful, but clearly under very great stress. She is going on holiday this afternoon—she is flying now.

Yvette Cooper Portrait Yvette Cooper
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I wish the hon. Gentleman’s constituent a good holiday after the stress she has endured.